Linckia

Linckia is a genus of sea star. They are found mainly in the Indo-Pacific region. They are known to be creatures with remarkable regenerative abilities, capable of defensive autotomy against predators. They reproduce asexually.

The genus is named after the German naturalist Johann Heinrich Linck (1674–1734).

Systematics

Five groups within Linckia have been clearly genetically differentiated - L. columbiae, L. bouvieri, two clades within L. guildingi, and one clade with two sub-clades consisting of both L. laevigata and L. multifora ^[1]. A list of species of Linckia^[2]:

• Linckia bouvieri (=Linckia formosa)
• Linckia columbiae (=Ophidiaster colombiae, Phataria fascialis)
• Linckia guildingi (=Linckia diplax, Linckia ehrenbergii)
• Linckia hypnicola
• Linckia hystrix
• Linckia multifora (=Linckia costae, Linckia leachi, Linckia typus, Ophidiaster multiforis)
• Linckia laevigata (=Linckia miliaris)
• Linckia nodosa (=Calliophidiaster psicodelica, Linckia bullisi)
• Linckia purpurea

and it can regenarate

References

• ITIS taxonomic information about Linckia
• Hawaii's Sea Creatures (info from hard-copy book)