THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

Vermillion Sea Star
Mediaster aequalis (Goniasteridae)
Distribution: Alaska south to southern
California.
Habitat: Common in subtidal waters; rarely
exposed to the air. Found especially in rocky
areas; occasionally on sand and gravel.
Appearance: Orange to vermillion red. Aboral
surface covered with oval or hexagonal plates
(ossicles). Oral side lighter.
Diet: Opportunistic: sponges, bryozoans,
tunicates, algae, and detritus. Also known to
feed on sea pens.
Remarks: Moves more rapidly than most sea
stars.
Elegant Sea Star
Fromia monilis (Ophidiasteridae)
Distribution: Andaman Sea to western Pacific
Ocean.
Habitat: Various coral reefs substrates at 1–30
m depth.
Appearance: Diameter to 12 cm. Body with
tapering arms. Central disc and ray tips red,
remainder of body and rays dark creamy yellow.
Diet: Detritus and small invertebrates.
Remarks: Distinctive pattern and bright color
may indicate foul taste.
Blue Linckia Sea Star
Linckia laevigata (Ophidiasteridae)
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Coral rubble or among seagrasses in
shallow lagoons and to 60 m depth.
Appearance: Overall arm radius to 40 cm. Color
bright blue overall, but olive-brown, pink and
yellow variants exist. Long, cylindrical, smooth
arms.
Diet: Scavenger. Also consumes algae and
microbes.
Reproduction and Development: Unlike most
sea stars that can regenerate missing parts if at
least part of the central disk remains, linckias are
able to regenerate into a complete sea star from a
single cast off ray. Initially four minute arms bud
from the end of the lone ray; this form is called a
comet, as it resembles a shooting star.
Mortality/Longevity: Pufferfishes are known
to feed on blue linckias, and harlequin shrimp
nibble on the ends of their rays.
California Academy of Sciences
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Red Linckia Sea Star
Linckia multiflora (Ophidiasteridae)
Distribution: Red Sea, Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Shallow reefs to 40 m.
Appearance: Mottled red, blue or yellow colors.
Typically has five rays.
Diet: May be a suspension feeder. It may feed
on microscopic algae and microbes.
Reproduction and Development: Sexual
reproduction. Also asexual: casts off an arm
at base of the disc; the “comet” regenerates a
new disc and rays. Thus the new individual is
a clone of the parent.
Mortality/Longevity: Remarks: Regeneration
of an adult from a single arm is very unusual
for sea stars.
Remarks: Parasitic snail, Thyca chrystallina,
often found on the oral side of this sea star.
Panamic Cushion Sea Star
Pentaceraster cumingi (Oreasteridae)
Distribution: Mid- to eastern Pacific: Hawaii,
Sea of Cortez to Peru and Galapagos.
Habitat: On rubble and sand from shallows
to 45 m.
Appearance: Body colors vary from red,
orange to greenish blue, with large red spines.
Max. size across: 45 cm.
Diet: Micro-fauna in the substrate, benthic
algae, and other echinoderms.
Conservation Status: Anecdotally, this species
seems to be found less frequently at shallow
depths because, given its large size, handsome
coloration, and slow movement, it is regularly
taken by humans.
Chocolate Chip Sea Star
Protoreaster nodosus (Oreasteridae)
Distribution: Red Sea, Indian and western
Pacific oceans.
Habitat: Shallow sand and seagrass beds,
typically in sheltered locations 1-30 m.
Appearance: Diameter to 30 cm. Ground body
color is highly variable; may be beige, brown,
orange, red or other hues, such as green or blue.
Horn-shaped nodules colored blue, dark green,
dark chocolate or black, sometimes surrounded
by milk chocolate-colored margins, are
distinctive and are responsible for this sea stars
common name.
Diet: Sponges, clams and snails, other