Halcampa chrysanthellum has a long, slender column up to 5 cm long and 5 mm diameter. The column can be white, buff, pink or yellow and is longitudinally striped. Halcampa chrysanthellum has 12 short tentacles. The oral disc is small and usually patterned in various shades of brown on a white, yellowish or cream background. Sometimes the pattern is lacking or present only on the tentacles whilst the disc is plain white, brown or yellow.

This burrowing sea anemone has a very elongated, worm-like column with a rounded base which may be inflated and bulbous. The lower part of the column has microscopic adhesive papillae to which numerous sand grains usually adhere. The tentacles are short, 12 in number. Length of the column is up to 70mm, diameter to 5mm. The column is white, buff, or pink, longitudinally striped with alternate opaque and translucent lines. The disc is typically patterned with cream, reddish, and brown, but may be yellow, white, or buff, with or without a pattern. Peachia cylindrica and Halcampoides elongatus are larger with longer lentacles, Peachia has a conchula.

Arctic Ocean, East North Atlantic, European waters (ERMS scope), Irish Exclusive economic Zone, North East Atlantic, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone

Recorded from all coasts of Britain but rare in the North Sea; rather local. Also from northwest France. Possibly more widespread but status of related species is uncertain.

coastal

Depth range based on 20 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 6 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 55.5
  Temperature range (°C): 12.270 - 12.270
  Nitrate (umol/L): 4.820 - 4.820
  Salinity (PPS): 35.343 - 35.343
  Oxygen (ml/l): 6.174 - 6.174
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.373 - 0.373
  Silicate (umol/l): 2.643 - 2.643

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 55.5
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Depth range based on 1 specimen in 1 taxon.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 0
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

 Halcampa chrysanthellum burrows in mud, sand or gravel from the low shore to about 100 m depth offshore, often in the region of eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds. It is occasionally found under stones.

Burrows in gravel, sand or mud. Occasional on shore in sheltered localities, especially in or near beds of eel-grass (Zostera marina), or offshore to about 50m depth.