Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage
 

Linckia laevigata

‘Etu-moana

Vivid-blue Starfish

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Open this image in pop-up window Image: Adult, Guam 78KB
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General Information

COMMON NAMES: Vivid-blue Starfish

TRADITIONAL NAMES: ‘Etu-moana (RR AT), Veri ‘Etū / Ma‘ama‘a-tai (MG), ‘Ētū Tai (MK), Ika‘etū (MT), ‘Etū-tai (AK), Māngūngū (TS TW), Fetu (MH RK), Mangamanga Tai ? (PK); COMMENT: Etu, Fetu and Hetu are general names for any starfish.

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE w.Indian Ocean - s.e.Polynesia - (not Hawai‘i)

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; Marine, near-shore

KEY FEATURES: Vivid blue starfish, 15-25cm diam., 5 similar arms, not constricted near base.

Enlarged Image of 'Linckia laevigata'

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea: Present
RR 
MG
AT
MK
MT
AK
PL
TK
MN
P
^+
^+

Northern Group: Present
TN 
MH
RK
PK
NS
SW
P
P
P

Key to Symbols

Scientific Taxonomy

Linckia laevigata (Linnaeus, 1758)
TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; ECHINODERMATA; ELEUTHEROZOA; STELLEROIDEA; ASTEROIDEA; Forcipulata; OPHIDIASTERIDAE

More Information

GENERAL NOTE: In April 1998 Ann Fielding found 5-6 pure white Linckia laevigata near the harbour on Atiu. It is know known if these are merely albinos or a different species. (Voucher XXX Museum, No.xxxx)

Vouchers & References

Vouchers:
Mangaia: specimen, College, 9/2000, ID GMcC. Atiu: field-specimen, College collection, 10/2000, ID GMcC. Pukapuka: fieldspecimen, 2/2004, G.McCormack with ID as Linckia laevigata.

References:
None recorded.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

Web Resources

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org. Copy citation to system clipboard
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