Seastar Luidia maculata

Scientific name: Luidia maculata
  • Author(s)
    Jen Cork
  • Updated
    18/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Luidia
    Species
    maculata

Identification:

Eight arms tapering to a point; aboral surface covered with square or polygonal plates, yellow or buff coloured to dark green; tube feet ending in a rounded knob rather than a sucker.

Distribution:

Tropical inshore and continental shelf areas from Port Molle, Qld, to Houtman Abrolhos, WA; Indo-west Pacific Ocean. Depth range 0-134 m.

Australian Museum registration database records for the Sydney region:

No records from the Sydney area but records from the New South Wales coast and known general distribution suggest it could occur.

Taxonomic information - synonyms and type material:

Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel, 1842: 77.
Type data: syntypes RMNH 539 2 specimens.
Type locality: Japan.

Links for further information:

Atlas of Living Australia

World Register of Marine Species

Additional references:

Clark (1946); Clark & Rowe (1971); Rowe & Gates (1995).