Spiny sand seastar (Luidia quinaria)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Echinodermata · Class: Asteroidea · Order: Paxillosida · Family: Luidiidae · Genus: Luidia.

Accepted name: Luidia quinaria · Authority: von Martens, 1865 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 241343.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Luidia limbata Sladen, 1889; Luidia maculata var. quinaria von Martens, 1865; Luidia singaporensis Grube in Sladen, 1889.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=241343 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Luidia quinaria. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Depth range: 0–218 m · Habitat zone: benthic.

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 81177) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Luidia-quinaria.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

180 georeferenced occurrence records for Luidia quinaria are published through GBIF from 9 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 51 distinct locations from a sample of 180 records, omitting 23 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Korea, Republic of (125); Japan (28); China (10); Chinese Taipei (7); Russian Federation (6); Indonesia (1); India (1); Italy (1); Marshall Islands (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Yellow Sea; Korea Island.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2270600) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2270600&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=241343 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Luidia quinaria quinaria von Martens, 1865

Luidia quinaria has a small central disc and five long slender arms fringed with short spines. The aboral (upper) surface is covered in small paxillae, pillar-like spines with flat tops giving a smooth, table-like surface. The general colour of the aboral surface is grey with contrasting pink or orange margins to the arms. The oral (under) surface is paler.

Luidia quinaria is a predator and is found in shallow water on soft sediments. In Ise Bay in central Japan, it was found living throughout the oxygen-poor waters of the bay while another starfish, Astropecten scoparius, tended to occupy a separate zone near the mouth of the bay. Examination of the stomach contents of both starfish showed that Luidia quinaria largely fed on other echinoderms, in particular the brittle star Ophiura kinbergi, which formed more than half of the diet. The other starfish largely consumed molluscs, including the snail Voorwindia paludinoides and the clam Alvenius ojianus. The differences in the diet were thought to be due to the different availability of food items in various parts of the bay, these being due to variations in the type of sediment.

Several different biologically active steroids have been isolated from the tissues of Luidia quinaria. One of these, an asterosaponin, may prove useful in the treatment of coughs and asthma and may help clear mucus from airways.

Source: Wikipedia: Luidia quinaria — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luidia_quinaria (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.