Seastars lack a brain and also do not possess well-defined sensory network. However, they are sensitive to touch, light, the water that surrounds them, and orientation. The pedicellariae of the sea star aid in touch sensation as they function to free the organism of any sediments. The tube feet function as chemoreceptors and are used by the sea star to locate food.
Communication Channels: tactile ; chemical
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
This species is not listed under any conservation programs.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
Fertilized Linckia laevigata eggs become larvae after a couple of days. The larvae spend about 28-30 days in the water column before settling onto a hard surface on the reef and metamorphosing into a tiny version of the adult star. The juvenile-to-adult transformation is estimated to take place at about 2 years of age. At this point, they are considered “mini adults” and continue to grow until reaching a length of about 30 centimeters.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
There are no known adverse effects of L. laevigata on humans.
Blue sea stars are used for decoration and for personal aesthetics (personal aquariums and decorations when they are dried out). They are popular among tourists and in the aquatic life industry. The blue seastar is also being tested as an inexpensive source of potential anti-tumor and antibacterial agents.
Positive Impacts: pet trade ; source of medicine or drug
The blue sea star is mainly a scavenger, breaking down tissues of dead animals. Linckia laevigata is an obligate host for the limpet Thyca crystallina, which feeds on the hemolymph of the sea star. The shrimp Periclimenes soror, is also parasitic on L. laevigata.
Ecosystem Impact: biodegradation
Commensal/Parasitic Species:
Linckia laevigata, like other seastars, are opportunistic predators and scavengers. They invert their stomachs and begin to digest their food externally. Food items include dead animals, small invertebrates, and detritus.
Animal Foods: aquatic or marine worms; other marine invertebrates
Plant Foods: algae
Other Foods: detritus
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats other marine invertebrates, Scavenger ); omnivore ; detritivore
Linckia laevigata inhabits the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the western Indian Ocean to southeastern Polynesia.
Biogeographic Regions: oriental ; australian ; indian ocean; pacific ocean
Individuals have been observed in shallow, multileveled areas in upper zones of sunny reefs and reef fringes in water temperatures from 22 to 26 degrees degrees Celsius. The blue sea star is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature, oxygen level, and pH.
Range elevation: N/A (high) m.
Range depth: 60 to <1 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; saltwater or marine
Aquatic Biomes: reef
The blue seastar is known to live as long as 10 years in the wild. The mortality rate is high in captivity because this species requires precise conditions and attention to acclimation.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 10 (high) years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 10 (high) years.
Linckia laevigata is characterized by five cylindrical arms with a bright blue or light blue body color and yellow tube feet. Green, pink, and yellow colors have also been observed. Individuals can grow up to 30 to 40 centimeters across. These animals get their color from a blue pigment called linckiacyanin and some accessory yellow carotenoids. The starfish colors vary, depending on the exact ratio and combination of pigments in each individual.
Range mass: 11 to 16 g.
Range length: 30 (high) cm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; radial symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
The blue coloring of L. laevigata may warn potential predators of toxicity. Like other seastars, the blue seastar can use autonomy, or self-severance of a limb, to escape predation. Body parts lost to predators are regenerated.
Known Predators:
Though the sexes appear indistinguishable when observing this animal externally, the differences can be determined by observing the gonads or by examining the act of spawning when the male and female can be distinguished more readily. During the mating process, gametes are released freely into the water above the animals. Seastars gather in groups when they are prepared to mate to increase the probability of fertilization. If a male and female release gametes in close proximity, the eggs are fertilized. Mating generally occurs in the summer.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Linckia laevigata spawns between May and August. This species may have a very low level of recruitment. One intensive study found only 10 offspring in one year class. Blue starfish also undergo asexual reproduction, which is the predominant form of reproduction in captivity. During asexual reproduction, the blue starfish divide through their disc, producing clones with identical genetic makeup.
Breeding interval: The blue sea star usually spawns once a year.
Breeding season: The blue sea star usually spawns from May to August.
Range gestation period: 28 to 30 days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 (high) years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 (high) years.
Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; sexual ; asexual ; fertilization (External ); broadcast (group) spawning
No parental investment is provided after gametes are released.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning)
Linckia laevigata (sometimes called the "blue Linckia" or blue star) is a species of sea star in the shallow waters of tropical Indo-Pacific.
The variation ("polymorphism", in this case, a "color morph") most commonly found is pure blue, dark blue, or light blue, although observers find the aqua, purple, or orange variation throughout the ocean. These sea stars may grow up to 30 cm (11.8 in) in diameter, with rounded tips at each of the arms; some individuals may bear lighter or darker spots along each of their arms. Individual specimens are typically firm in texture, possessing the slightly tubular, elongated arms common to most of other members of the family Ophidiasteridae, and usually possessing short, yellowish tube feet. An inhabitant of coral reefs and sea grass beds, this species is relatively common and is typically found in sparse density throughout its range. Blue stars live subtidally, or sometimes intertidally, on fine (sand) or hard substrata and move relatively slowly (mean locomotion rate of 8.1 cm/min).[1]
The genus Linckia, as is true of other species of starfish, is recognized by scientists as being possessed of remarkable regenerative capabilities, and endowed with powers of defensive autotomy against predators: Although not yet documented, L. laevigata may be able to reproduce asexually, as does the related species Linckia multifora (another denizen of tropical seas, but of differing coloration, i.e., pink or reddish mottled with white and yellow, which has been observed reproducing asexually in captivity).[2] Linckia multifora produces 'comets', or separated arms, from the mother individual; these offspring proceed to grow four tiny stubs of arms ready for growth to maturity. L. laevigata is apparently not an exception to this behavior, as many individuals observed in nature are missing arms or, on occasion, in the comet form.
Some species of other reef inhabitants prey on this species of sea star. Various pufferfishes, Charonia species (triton shells), harlequin shrimp, and even some sea anemones have been observed to eat whole or parts of the sea stars.[3] The Blue Linckia is also prone to parasitization by a species of the parasitic gastropod Thyca crystallina. Commensal associations sometimes play part on this echinoderm's life; animals such as Periclimenes shrimp are sometimes found commensally on the oral or aboral surface of the animal, picking up mucus and detritus.
This sea star is fairly popular with marine aquarium hobbyists, where it requires a proper, slow acclimatization before entering the tank system, and an adequate food source similar to that found in its natural habitat. Generally thought of as a detritivore, many sources maintain that this species will indefinitely graze throughout the aquarium for organic films or sedentary, low-growing organisms such as sponges and algae. In the marine aquarium hobby, they have been seen to consume Asterina Starfish,[4] which are commonly introduced into such aquaria on the ubiquitous "live rock" used in such settings. In 2021 pictures surfaced on Reddit of a linckia eating an Asternia it takes roughly 45 mins to fully devour the starfish. It's a worthy pest control depending on how abundant the food source is, as well as such factors as the conditions of shipping, acclimatization, and water quality, this species has been kept in captivity with variable success. This species has yet to be bred in captivity for sustainable harvest.
This species has long been a staple of the sea-shell trade, which involves marketing dried sea star tests (skeletons) for curios or decoration. Some regions of their habitat have seen significant population decrease due to the continuous harvesting by the sea-shell and tourism industries.
In Tonga
In Aguirangan Island, Philippines
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In Bali
In some places non-blue color morphs can be frequent, such as pink (here in Mayotte)
4-armed specimen
Thick blue starfish at Wakatobi National Park, 2017
Linckia laevigata (sometimes called the "blue Linckia" or blue star) is a species of sea star in the shallow waters of tropical Indo-Pacific.
