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 Indo-Pacific.[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 Indo-Pacific[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. ↑ "FishDB - Red Knob Sea Star". www.fishdb.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  2. ↑ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
  3. ↑ "View Protoreaster linckii". www.saltcorner.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  4. ↑ ondrej.zicha(at)gmail.com, Ondrej Zicha;. "BioLib: Biological library". www.biolib.cz. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  5. ↑ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
  6. ↑ Byern, Janek von; Grunwald, Ingo (2011-01-27). Biological Adhesive Systems: From Nature to Technical and Medical Application. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9783709102862.
  7. ↑ Indiviglio, Frank (2006-10-12). The Everything Aquarium Book: All You Need to Build the Acquarium of Your Dreams. Everything Books. ISBN 1440523894.
  8. ↑ "FreshMarine.com - African Red-Knob Sea Star - Protoreaster lincki - Buy Cheap Red Knob at Wholesale". www.freshmarine.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  9. ↑ http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2158+2224&aid=2175
  10. ↑ "FishDB - Red Knob Sea Star". www.fishdb.com. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
  11. ↑ http://www.aquariumslife.com/sea-star/red-knob-sea-star-protoreaster-linckii/


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