Linckia guildingi
Size
To 30cm.
Description:
L. guildingi has a small disc and usually 5 (occasionally 4 or 6) long cylindrical arms. Arms often of unequal length. Variable colour of reddish brown, green, yellow, tan or violet. Surface covered with small swollen plates covered with smooth granules, giving it a rough feel.
Juvenile Individuals have brown, red or violet spots
Ecology
Found on reefs and hard bottoms to 130ft (40m). Basically detritus feeders
Life Cycle
Reproduces both sexually and asexually.
Asexual regenerative reproduction is by detatching arms which regenerate into new individuals by forming a star-like bud at the broken base, the "Comet", which eventually grow into full size arms. This can take up to 2 years.
In sexual reproduction, embryos hatch into planktonic larvae and later metamorphose into pentamorous juveniles which develop into young sea stars with stubby arms.
To 30cm.
Description:
L. guildingi has a small disc and usually 5 (occasionally 4 or 6) long cylindrical arms. Arms often of unequal length. Variable colour of reddish brown, green, yellow, tan or violet. Surface covered with small swollen plates covered with smooth granules, giving it a rough feel.
Juvenile Individuals have brown, red or violet spots
Ecology
Found on reefs and hard bottoms to 130ft (40m). Basically detritus feeders
Life Cycle
Reproduces both sexually and asexually.
Asexual regenerative reproduction is by detatching arms which regenerate into new individuals by forming a star-like bud at the broken base, the "Comet", which eventually grow into full size arms. This can take up to 2 years.
In sexual reproduction, embryos hatch into planktonic larvae and later metamorphose into pentamorous juveniles which develop into young sea stars with stubby arms.
| Ecological Descriptors | ||||
| Habitat | Size (cm) | Diet | Behaviour | Sex |
| Co, R | 30 | Det | I | F* |
Comet Star
"Comet"
Recent DNA studies have indicated that Linckia guildingi may represent several cryptic species.
* Both sexual and asexual reproduction
(C) Emoke Denes
439
(C) David Meadows
Comet Star
