The sea anemone, being a member of the Hexacorallia, usually carries tentacles in multiples of six that are positioned in concentric circles.

[citation needed] Its specific scientific name, magnifica, and its vernacular name come from the bright color of the column, which is the visible outer structure when the animal retracts, and these range from electric blue to green, red, pink, purple, or brown.

[citation needed] The magnificent sea anemone is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area, from the eastern coasts of Africa, the Red Sea included, to Polynesia and from southern Japan to Australia and New-Caledonia[2][3] This anemone likes hard substrates well exposed to light and current from the surface to 20 m deep.

The second method is through using its tentacles to stun, immobilize, and consume prey (small invertebrates, fry, or juvenile fish).

With 12 species of hosted anemonefish, the magnificent sea anemone is highly generalist.