Protoreaster linckii
Protoreaster linckii, the red knob sea star, red spine star, African sea star,[1] or the African red knob sea star,[2] is a species of starfish from the Indo-Pacific.[3][4]
Protoreaster linckii | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Echinodermata |
Class: | Asteroidea |
Order: | Valvatida |
Family: | Oreasteridae |
Genus: | Protoreaster |
Species: | P. linckii |
Binomial name | |
Protoreaster linckii (Blainville, 1834) | |
Description
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 Indo-Pacific[7][8] in locations ranging from shallow tidal pools to reefs up to 100 m (330 ft) deep.[9]
- In Kenya.
- Close to a dead Astropyga radiata
- Drying
Behaviour and diet
P. linckii is active in the nightime.[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 the like.[11]
It is also a heavily fished species for the curios trade.
References
- "FishDB - Red Knob Sea Star". www.fishdb.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
- "View Protoreaster linckii". www.saltcorner.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- ondrej.zicha(at)gmail.com, Ondrej Zicha. "BioLib: Biological library". www.biolib.cz. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
- Byern, Janek von; Grunwald, Ingo (2011-01-27). Biological Adhesive Systems: From Nature to Technical and Medical Application. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9783709102862.
- Indiviglio, Frank (2006-10-12). The Everything Aquarium Book: All You Need to Build the Aquarium of Your Dreams. Everything Books. ISBN 1440523894.
- "FreshMarine.com - African Red-Knob Sea Star - Protoreaster lincki - Buy Cheap Red Knob at Wholesale". www.freshmarine.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
- "FishDB - Red Knob Sea Star". www.fishdb.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- http://www.aquariumslife.com/sea-star/red-knob-sea-star-protoreaster-linckii/