Luidia maculata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 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 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
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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]
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]