Critter ID help

[wjsdive]

Can anyone ID this critter? Or is it someone's grandmothers' pincushion from her sewing kit? Taken at Point Lobos on Nov. 10 out towards the middle reef. Lobos is a great Dive site and I'm a little jealous of you guys having it in your backyard, being from the Great Lakes area we do have our wrecks, but that is a beautiful place.
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[rhlee]

It's a closed-up Urticina lofotensis anemone

 

[starryeye]

The colors are gorgeous here. (I really noticed the difference from my last dives in Hawaii.) Here's a modest photo of it opened up, also at Pt. Lobos.

 

[wjsdive]

Thanks rhlee and starryeye. I was thinking anemone but I had no idea those two were one and the same. I've seen many opened up but that was the first closed one I'd seen. And I still think it looks just like my grandmothers pincushion.

 

[dannobee]

... Lobos is a great Dive site and I'm a little jealous of you guys having it in your backyard, being from the Great Lakes area we do have our wrecks, but that is a beautiful place.
Thanks in advance for any help.

When will you be here again? Some of us can take you to better spots than Point Lobos. You'll be AMAZED.

 

[wjsdive]

We try to get to Monterey area once a year, so it won't be til next year sometime. I will keep your generous offer in mind and contact you when we make some plans.

Thanks,