Luidia maculata

Luidia maculata
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Asteroidea
Order:	Paxillosida
Family:	Luidiidae
Genus:	Luidia
Species:	L. maculata
Binomial name
	Luidia maculata; Müller & Troschel, 1842
Synonyms
	Luidia varia Mortensen, 1925;

Last updated October 18, 2024

Luidia maculata is a species of starfish in the family Luidiidae in the order Paxillosida. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region.^[2] It is commonly known as the eight-armed sea star because, although the number of arms varies from five to nine, eight arms seems to be the most common.^[3]

Description

Luidia maculata is a large starfish, up to 25 cm (10 in) in diameter. There are usually seven or eight (sometimes nine) long, slender, pointed arms and a relatively small central disc. The aboral (upper) surface is flat, with some granulations, the surface covered with flat-topped, table-like structures known as paxillae. Rows of pale-coloured tube feet that end in points rather than suction pads, are visible on the sides of the arms and the oral (lower) surface. There are two different colour forms of this starfish; some individuals are a uniform shade of dark brown or greenish-brown, while others are dark brown with orange-brown chevron-shaped markings, or light brown with dark markings.^[2] This starfish could be confused with some other member of the Luidia genus, particularly L. savignyi , but that species is spiny whereas L. maculata is smooth. Another similar species is L. magnifica , but that typically has nine or ten arms.^[2]^[3]

Distribution and habitat

Luidia maculata is native to the tropical Indian and Pacific Ocean. Its usual habitat is muddy sand on the floor of lagoons, but it may also be found on other soft sediments and in seagrass beds. Its depth range is from a few metres down to about 35 m (115 ft).^[2]

Ecology

Luidia maculata partially buries itself in soft sediment rendering itself difficult to spot. It is a predator, feeding mostly on sea urchins, particularly irregular sand dollars and similar echinoderms which also live buried in sand. Unlike some related species which practice external digestion, it draws its prey inside its mouth to consume. When it emerges from hiding, it often leaves behind inedible fragments of test from its prey in the hollow it vacated.^[2] Other dietary items include sea cucumbers, brittle stars, bivalves, snails, crustaceans and worms.^[3]

Related Research Articles

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Astropecten polyacanthus, the sand sifting starfish or comb sea star, is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. It is the most widespread species in the genus Astropecten, found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The armspread is up to 20 cm (8 in). The specific epithet "polyacanthus" comes from the Latin meaning "many thorned".

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Astropecten irregularis is a sea star of the family Astropectinidae. Common names include Sand sea star.

Luidia clathrata is a tropical species of starfish in the family Luidiidae. It is variously known as the slender-armed starfish, the gray sea star, or the lined sea star. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

Luidia superba is a tropical species of starfish in the family Luidiidae. A single specimen was found off the Pacific coast of Colombia in 1888; the species has since been found in the Galapagos Islands. It is endemic to this area and has not been recorded elsewhere.

Archaster typicus is a species of starfish in the family Archasteridae. It is commonly known as the sand star or the sand sifting star but these names are also applied to starfish in the genus Astropecten. It is found in shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific region.

Luidia senegalensis, the nine-armed sea star, is a tropical species of starfish in the family Luidiidae found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

Luidia foliolata, the sand star, is a species of starfish in the family Luidiidae found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean on sandy and muddy seabeds at depths to about 600 m (2,000 ft).

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The spiny sand seastar is a species of starfish in the family Luidiidae. It is found in shallow parts of the China Sea and in the vicinity of the Korean archipelago. The tissues of this starfish have been found to contain several secondary metabolites with medicinal potential.

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Luidia magellanica is a species of starfish in the family Luidiidae. It is found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean on the coast of South America.

Luidia savignyi is a species of starfish belonging to the family Luidiidae. The species is found in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific region. It is a large starfish and preys on other echinoderms.

References

1 2 Mah, Christopher (2021). "Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel, 1842". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
1 2 3 4 5 Mitel, Cédric & Ziemski, Frédéric (5 February 2017). "Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel, 1842" (in French). DORIS. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
1 2 3 "Eight-armed Luidia sea star". Wild Singapore. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2021.

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[WoRMS-1] 1 2 Mah, Christopher (2021). "Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel, 1842". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 11 November 2021.

[DORIS-2] 1 2 3 4 5 Mitel, Cédric & Ziemski, Frédéric (5 February 2017). "Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel, 1842" (in French). DORIS. Retrieved 11 November 2021.

[Singapore-3] 1 2 3 "Eight-armed Luidia sea star". Wild Singapore. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2021.

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