Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel, 1842
Luidia maculata
photo by Poppe, Guido and Philippe

Family:  Luidiidae ()
Max. size:  60 cm WD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 512 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific. Tropical to subtropical.
Diagnosis:  A large-sized starfish with seven to nine arms, eight being the most common. Aboral surface usually yellowish-brown, with four to six distinctive dark blotches on the arms. Central disc is very small, and long arms are tapered to a pointed end. Body surface is densely covered by abactinal paxillae, also having small sharp spines along the two sides of arms. Ambulacral groove is with two rows of tube feet that do not retract into the body.
Biology:  Occurs on soft bottoms, exposed or buried in the sand (Also Ref. 129602) at depths of 0 to 90 m (Ref. 800). Also found on seagrass (Ref. 102259). Carnivorous and feeds on other echinoderms and molluscs (Ref. 800). Swallows prey as a whole, instead of protruding the stomach out to digest a prey (Ref. 125532).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 

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