Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel 1842

Yiu, Sam King Fung & Mah, Christopher L., 2024, New Ecological Observations and Occurrence for Asteroidea and Echinoidea in Hong Kong, Zootaxa 5526 (1), pp. 1-69 : 47

Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel 1842

Figure 35A–D

Comments

This species is identified by having seven to nine arms, a bold black and white pattern present on the disk and arms in addition to three to five stout but short inferomarginal spines arranged in a transverse series. Single paxillar spines are absent. Most observed individuals of this species in Hong Kong display eight or nine arms. Although addressed as a species relative to other Luidia spp. (e.g. A.M. Clark 1982) infraspecific variation has not been heavily investigated. There are for example, distinct disk patterns between individuals in the Hong Kong area. Figure 35A shows two color form variants, with the commonly encountered form on the left, but others have been observed. Feeding observations are considered under Discussion.

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 7m.

Outside Hong Kong. Widely throughout the Indo-Pacific. Southern China and Japan to Australia, Philippines, Indian Ocean, 0–100 m.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Luidia maculata A. In situ, abactinal surface showing two color pattern variants. B. In situ observation of an individual with disk depressed into sediment feeding on unidentified prey. C–D. Predation on a sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota. Photographer: A–B: Sam King Fung Yiu C–D: Choi Kwong Wan.