Protoreaster lincki
A red-knobbed starfish from the Indian Ocean with a grid-like pattern.
Protoreaster lincki, also called the red knob sea star, red spine star, African sea star, or African red knob sea star, is a starfish species found in the Indian Ocean. It reaches a maximum diameter of about 12 inches (30 cm). Along its five arms are numerous bright red tubercles that stick upward, and red stripes on its gray body connect these tubercles, giving the animal a grid-like appearance reminiscent of interconnecting wires. Its skeleton, made of calcareous ossicles and spicules, sits inside a layer of connective tissue and supports a large central disk.
This starfish lives in the western Indian Ocean, mainly along the African coast and Madagascar, extending north to India and Sri Lanka, with a small population also in Coral Bay, Western Australia. It prefers sandy or muddy seabeds, which make foraging easier, and while it is most often seen in shallow tidal pools, it can inhabit depths down to 100 meters (330 feet). It is carnivorous, feeding on a variety of sea creatures. Active both day and night, it is a popular aquarium specimen but is considered incompatible with many other invertebrates because it eats soft corals, sponges, tube worms, clams, and other starfish. Heavily fished for the curios trade, this species is in decline.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Protoreaster
- Species
- lincki
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Protoreaster lincki grows to a maximum diameter of 12 inches. It has numerous bright red tubercles along its five arms, connected by red stripes on a gray body, creating an appearance of a grid made of interconnecting wires. Its skeleton is composed of many calcareous ossicles and spicules located inside a layer of connective tissue, supporting the large central disk.
The species is distributed in the western Indian Ocean, mostly along the African coast and Madagascar, north to India and Sri Lanka, with a small population in Coral Bay, Western Australia. It prefers sandy or muddy seabeds for easier foraging and is most often seen in shallow tidal pools, though it can live down to 100 meters deep.
P. lincki is active both day and night. It is a popular aquarium specimen but is considered incompatible with many invertebrates because it eats soft corals, sponges, tube worms, clams, and other starfish. It is also heavily fished for the curios trade, contributing to its decline.
Reader's Guide
Protoreaster lincki is significant as a visually striking starfish species from the Indian Ocean, recognized for its bright red tubercles and grid-like pattern. Its popularity in the aquarium trade stems from its active behavior and distinctive appearance, but its carnivorous diet makes it incompatible with many other invertebrates. The species is also heavily fished for the curios trade, which contributes to its decline. Its distribution spans the western Indian Ocean, including African coasts, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, and a small population in Western Australia. The species prefers sandy or muddy seabeds and can inhabit depths down to 100 meters. Its skeleton, composed of calcareous ossicles and spicules, supports a large central disk. The red-knobbed starfish's ecological role as a predator of various marine organisms and its vulnerability to overcollection highlight its importance in marine biodiversity and conservation discussions.
Did You Know?
- Its bright red tubercles are connected by red stripes on a gray body, forming a grid-like pattern.
- It is found in the western Indian Ocean, with a small population in Coral Bay, Western Australia.
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