Linckia

Linckia is a genus of sea stars found mainly in the Indo-Pacific region. They are known to be creatures with remarkable regenerative abilities, and capable of defensive autotomy against predators. They reproduce asexually.

Linckia
Linckia multifora
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Order:
Valvatida
Family:
Ophidiasteridae
Genus:
Linckia

Nardo, 1834

The genus is named after the German naturalist Johann Heinrich Linck (1674–1734).

Systematics

Five groups within Linckia have been clearly genetically differentiated - L. columbiae, L. bouvieri, two clades within L. guildingi, and one clade with two subclades consisting of both L. laevigata and L. multifora .[1] A list of species of Linckia:[2]

  • Linckia bouvieri Perrier, 1875 (=Linckia formosa)
  • Linckia columbiae Gray, 1840 (=Ophidiaster colombiae, Phataria fascialis)
  • Linckia gracilis Liao, 1985
  • Linckia guildingi Gray, 1840 (=Linckia diplax, Linckia ehrenbergii)
  • Linckia kuhli von Martens, 1866
  • Linckia laevigata (Linnaeus, 1758) (=Linckia miliaris)
  • Linckia multifora (Lamarck, 1816) (=Linckia costae, Linckia leachi, Linckia typus, Ophidiaster multiforis)
  • Linckia nodosa Perrier, 1875 (=Calliophidiaster psicodelica, Linckia bullisi)
  • Linckia tyloplax H.L. Clark, 1914

Some sources also give :

  • Linckia hypnicola
  • Linckia hystrix
  • Linckia purpurea

References
  1. Williams, S.T., Species boundaries in the starfish genus Linckia. Marine Biology, Vol 136, No 1, p.137-148 (2000)
  2. MarineSpecies.org - Linckia Nardo, 1834


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