Red-knobbed starfish

Red-knobbed starfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Oreasteridae
Genus: Protoreaster
Species: P. linckii
Binomial name
Protoreaster linckii
(Blainville, 1834)

The red-knobbed starfish (Protoreaster linckii), also known as the red spine star, African sea star,[1] and the African red knob sea star,[2] is a species of starfish from the Indian Ocean.[3][4]

Description

mummified Protoreaster lincki for curios trade in Tanzania. Such practice contributes to the rarefaction of this species.

P. linckii grows to a maximum diameter of 12 in (30 cm). It has numerous tubercles located along its five arms. These tubercles are bright red and extend upward from the arms. It has a gray body with red stripes that connect the tubercles. This creates an appearance of a grid made of interconnecting wires.[5]

The skeleton is composed of many calcareous ossicles and spicules. They are located inside the layer of connective tissue. This skeleton supports the large central disk.[6]

It is distributed in the western Indian Ocean[7][8] in locations ranging from shallow tidal pools to reefs up to 100 m (330 ft) deep.[9]


Behaviour and diet

P. linckii is active in the daytime.[10] It is a popular aquarium specimen, but is considered incompatible with many other invertebrates, as it will eat soft corals, sponges, tube worms, clams, other starfish, and alike.[11]

It is also a heavily fished species for curios trade.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fishdb.com/db/salt/specimen/Red_Knob_Sea_Star.php
  2. ↑ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
  3. ↑ View Protoreaster linckii
  4. ↑ BioLib - Protoreaster linckii (Red Knob Seastar)
  5. ↑ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
  6. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=Zb3sTkJEwOwC Adhesion Phenomena in Nature: From Structure to Application Janek Byern p101
  7. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=DUq0NmhW1CcC The Everything Aquarium Book: All You Need to Build the Aquarium of Your Dreams, Frank Indiviglio
  8. ↑ http://www.freshmarine.com/red-knob-sea-star.html
  9. ↑ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
  10. ↑ http://www.fishdb.com/db/salt/specimen/Red_Knob_Sea_Star.php
  11. ↑ http://www.aquariumslife.com/sea-star/red-knob-sea-star-protoreaster-linckii/

External links


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