Invertebrate
Guilding's Sea Star
Linckia guildingiAlso known as Common Comet Star, Green Linckia
Guilding's sea stars roam shallow tropical coral reefs and seagrass beds, grazing on detrital films and bacterial mats coating sandy rubble. Famous for remarkable powers of autotomy and regeneration, an individual can intentionally shed an arm that subsequently sprouts four tiny new rays, earning them the nickname comet stars. Their smooth, cylindrical arms range across shades of greenish brown, tan, and subtle reddish grey, blending effortlessly into rocky substrates.
Reef DwellerRegenerativeMarine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyMicrobial Biofilm, Organic Detritus, Benthic Microalgae
Predators
- Harlequin Shrimp
- Triton's Trumpet
- Pufferfish
ThreatsCoral reef degradation, ocean warming, and sedimentation
HabitatsCoral reefs, seagrass beds, and rocky rubble shallows
Life span5–10 years
Classification
- OrderValvatida
- FamilyOphidiasteridae
- GenusLinckia
- SpeciesLinckia guildingi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look along crevices and under coral ledges during low tide or snorkeling excursions.
- Handling: Leave animals undisturbed in place, as lifting them out of the water disrupts their delicate tube feet.
Predator (c) Christian Gloor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator (c) AntanO, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative dr.scott.mills / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative
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