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sea
stars text index | photo
index
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| Phylum Echinodermata > Class Stelleroida > Subclass Asteroidea |
| Luidia
sand star Luidia sp. Family Luidiidae updated Jan 09 Where seen? This elegant sea star is sometimes seen on Changi. Features: Diameter with arms to 8-10cm. Those seen usually with five arms. The arms are long, slightly rounded, and tapered to a pointed tip, edged with tiny spines along the sides. The upper surface of the body is covered with special flat-topped, pillar-like structures called paxillae. The underside is pale, and from grooves along the arms emerge large tube feet with pointed tips. The upperside is plain, beige or pale greyish pink. The two Luidia species that are seldom encountered and listed in Lane's book are: Luidia penangensis (6-armed sand star) recorded from the Changi-Ubin-Tekong area with usually six arms which are slightly constricted at the base. It is uniformly grey. Luidia hardwicki (5-armed sand star) recorded from Sultan Shoal and the Pulau Ayer Chawan islands that have since been reclaimed to form Jurong Island. It has five arms and bivalve pedicellariae which require a strong hand lens to see. |
 Changi, Aug 08  |
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 Underside. |
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 Pointed tube feet. |
Luidia sand stars on Singapore shores
 Chek Jawa, Jan 09 |
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 Changi, Aug 11  |
 Changi, Jul 09  |
 Changi, May 11  |
more photos of luidia sand stars on Singapore shores
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References
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