Odd Coloration of Linckia sp. Sea Star

[scubadiverjackcook]

On 26 June 2009, I took this photo in <30 FSW at Casino Point Dive Park in Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California. It was about 1:00 PM and the sea star was in rubble on Little Casino Reef. The water temp was 66 degrees F. It is an unusual color that I didn't recognize as typical of a Fragile Star (L. columbiae). I was unable to find anything like it on the web. Can anybody tell me is this a color variation of the L. columbiae or is it another Linckia species?

 

[LeslieH]

It seems to be a color variation. Here's an image of another one http://diver.net/picture_on_black.s...boats.com/Peace/2006.07.03-04/P7037251clr.jpg If you don't mind I'll send your pic to our echino curator & see what he says.

 

[scubadiverjackcook]

Thanks, Leslie. Chris Grossman's photos certainly looks like the same critter. I sent my original picture to Christopher Mah of the Smithsonian and he postulated that the color variation might be as a result of growth. You may send the photo anywhere you choose. Christopher asked me to try to get a picture of the underside of one of these sea stars to assist him in identification. In the future I will also carry a scale ruler with me. I think this one was about 8 to 10 inches span, but I can't be certain. I was with some inexperience divers, so I was rushed when I took the photo. Chris Mah also expressed concern that aquarists may have released the Indo-Pacific Blue Star L. laevigata tropical species into the California environment.

 

[LeslieH]

I'm at the Natural History Museum here in LA. Let's see what the local guys who know the fauna here say about the beastie.

 

[drbill]

I've seen a few color variants of Linckia in Catalina waters. 8-10" does sound a bit large for this species.

 

[scubadiverjackcook]

As I admitted, I was in a hurry and I will carry a scale with me in the future. I have seen the regular coloration of L. columbiae that was in the 8-10 inch range, but that is very unusual. Most of what I saw on that Friday were 2-3 inches.

 

[designbysue]

Just saw this post - was able to clean up the color in the photo.



Maybe that will help.

Sue

 

[archman]

heh, I'm stumped at Ophidiasteridae. I don't like this family.:depressed:

 

[scubadiverjackcook]

It is like a basket of snakes, No?

 

[LeslieH]

Locals have responded. It's a color variant. You can sorta see the reddish tip on the arm on the left - that's a good clue and as one of my friends said, L. columbiae is notoriously variable in color.