About Bunodosoma californicum Carlgren, 1951
The column of Bunodosoma californicum varies in color from olive green to greenish-brown to rusty red. It can grow up to 40 millimetres (1.6 in) tall, with a base width between 20 millimetres (0.79 in) and 30 millimetres (1.2 in). The entire column is covered in rounded bumps known as vesicles. Unlike the vesicles of some similar sea anemone species, these are not adhesive, so the column of Bunodosoma californicum is typically clean, with no bits of shell or other detritus clinging to it. At the base of the column, the vesicles are arranged in distinct neat longitudinal rows; higher up the column, their arrangement becomes more random, though they remain densely packed. The vesicles match the color of the column itself. The oral disc shares the same color as the column, and may have faint light-colored radial lines. Most individuals have 80 conical tentacles arranged in three or four rings around the oral disc, but the number of tentacles varies between individual anemones. The tentacles' base color matches the column, though some individuals may have rose, purple or orange tints on their tentacles. The tentacles are often marked with white at their base, and are slightly shorter than the width of the oral disc. Bunodosoma californicum inhabits rocky bottoms, ranging from the intertidal zone to the subtidal zone. Its distribution extends from the Gulf of California to Panama.
