bredfotsanemon
Octineon suecicum
The bredfotsanemon (Octineon suecicum) is a distinctive marine cnidarian endemic to Swedish coastal waters, characterized by its broad, foot-like base and translucent tentacles that display iridescent blue-green coloration. This sessile species plays a crucial role in its ecosystem as both predator of small planktonic organisms and shelter provider for juvenile fish and crustaceans.
2
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Neil McDaniel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Neil McDaniel
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Anthozoa
Order
Actiniaria
Family
Octineonidae
Genus
Octineon
bredfotsanemon belongs to the family Octineonidae, order Actiniaria, within the Anthozoa class.
Species Profile
The bredfotsanemon (Octineon suecicum) is a distinctive marine cnidarian endemic to Swedish coastal waters, characterized by its broad, foot-like base and translucent tentacles that display iridescent blue-green coloration. This sessile species plays a crucial role in its ecosystem as both predator of small planktonic organisms and shelter provider for juvenile fish and crustaceans.
Bredfotsanemon faces severe population declines due to coastal development and pollution in its limited Baltic Sea range. Climate change-induced warming and acidification of marine waters further threaten this cold-water specialist, while its restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Rocky subtidal zones and sandy bottoms in shallow coastal waters of the Baltic Sea, typically at depths of 5-30 meters where salinity levels are reduced compared to open ocean conditions. The species requires specific temperature and salinity ranges found only in these brackish marine environments.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Bredfotsanemon faces severe population declines due to coastal development and pollution in its limited Baltic Sea range. Climate change-induced warming and acidification of marine waters further threaten this cold-water specialist, while its restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances.
Climate change and ocean warming
Coastal development and habitat destruction
Limited geographic range
Marine pollution and eutrophication
Ocean acidification
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). bredfotsanemon (Octineon suecicum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/bredfotsanemon