Aulactinia verrucosa has a cylindrical body and is wider at the base than at the crown.

The walls of the column are covered by wart-like tubercles known as verrucae.

Above the column, there are up to forty-eight tentacles, arranged in six cycles.

[1] Its northern limit is Shetland and western Scotland and it is present all round the coasts of Ireland.

It is found on rocky shores both in areas with strong currents and in calmer waters.