Mottled sea star (Linckia multifora)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Linckia multifora
- Common name
- Mottled sea star
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Ophidiasteridae
- Genus
- Linckia
- Size
- 5–15 cm
- Depth
- 0–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, slow-mover
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Linckia multifora reaches 15 cm arms. Sea star with 5 very elongated thin arms (cylindrical), reduced central body, beige-pink to red-purple mottled with white-red color. Lives from 0 to 50 m on coral reefs of entire Indo-Pacific. Listed LC. Remarkable regeneration ability: can lose all arms and reform new individual from single arm (peltes), asexual reproduction by autotomy. Cousin of blue L. laevigata (in batch 5). Discreet macro photo subject for mottled pattern and sometimes visible regeneration.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Mottled sea star?
- Mottled sea star (Linckia multifora) reaches 5–15 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Mottled sea star?
- Mottled sea star is found between 0–50 m deep.
- Is the Mottled sea star dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Mottled sea star?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Mottled sea star?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Linckia
Other species in the family Ophidiasteridae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 207607)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5187112)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia