Common Comet Star
COMMON NAME IN FRENCH : Etoile de mer comète ENGLISH NAME: Common comet star
LATINE NAME: Linckia guildingii.
FAMILY: Asteridae
In the exhibition: the common comet star can be viewed in the Biodiversity Area after the Tropical Lagoon.
Geographic distribution: the common comet star is found in Indonesia and in the shallow waters of the Caribbean on plants that grow in sandy regions (between depths of 10 and 40m ). It has also been observed in the Australian Great Barrier Reef.
Habitat: it attaches itself to hard beds and coral reefs.
Description : this species is still relatively unknown. It has one long arm and between four and seven shorter ones, which is what gives it its “comet” shape. The longest arm can measure up to 22 cm. Its colour varies according to its age, the youngest being red, purple or brown and the adults having a uniform bright brown, reddish or yellowish brown. The common comet star reproduces mainly asexually. It can regenerate itself completely from its long arm, at the end of which a central disk and smaller arms can grow.
Diet: it is both carnivorous and detritivorous, feeding on sponges, micro-organisms, dead molluscs, urchins, microfauna inhabiting rocks or sand and dead seaweed. Size: between 30 and 40 cm.
Threats and protective measures: not currently listed as endangered by the IUCN http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/search
Species characteristics and ability to occupy an ecosystem niche in the context of biodiversity: a sea star can evert its stomach through its mouth and onto its prey to digest it outside of its body before pulling its stomach back into its body. It is the only animal to feed this way. This strategy compensates for the absence of jaws. In general, sea stars are opportunistic feeders, and can also be necrophagous.
Resilience: Asteroidea have strong regenerative powers - a severed arm can regenerate a central disk. A severed arm with some part (1/5) of a central disk is capable of regenerating an entire animal. Autonomous arms are a common feature in animals from the class Asteroidea.
Services provided to humanity in the fields of medical research, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products: Asteroidea secrete saponin sulphate as well as asterosaponins, which are compounds used as detergents and which are foaming agents when in solution. Astero-saponins are currently being studied for possible use in the treatment of cancerous tumours.
Geographic distribution: the common comet star is found in Indonesia and in the shallow waters of the Caribbean on plants that grow in sandy regions (between depths of 10 and 40m ). It has also been observed in the Australian Great Barrier Reef.
Habitat: it attaches itself to hard beds and coral reefs.
Description : this species is still relatively unknown. It has one long arm and between four and seven shorter ones, which is what gives it its “comet” shape. The longest arm can measure up to 22 cm. Its colour varies according to its age, the youngest being red, purple or brown and the adults having a uniform bright brown, reddish or yellowish brown. The common comet star reproduces mainly asexually. It can regenerate itself completely from its long arm, at the end of which a central disk and smaller arms can grow.
Diet: it is both carnivorous and detritivorous, feeding on sponges, micro-organisms, dead molluscs, urchins, microfauna inhabiting rocks or sand and dead seaweed. Size: between 30 and 40 cm.
Threats and protective measures: not currently listed as endangered by the IUCN http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/search
Species characteristics and ability to occupy an ecosystem niche in the context of biodiversity: a sea star can evert its stomach through its mouth and onto its prey to digest it outside of its body before pulling its stomach back into its body. It is the only animal to feed this way. This strategy compensates for the absence of jaws. In general, sea stars are opportunistic feeders, and can also be necrophagous.
Resilience: Asteroidea have strong regenerative powers - a severed arm can regenerate a central disk. A severed arm with some part (1/5) of a central disk is capable of regenerating an entire animal. Autonomous arms are a common feature in animals from the class Asteroidea.
Services provided to humanity in the fields of medical research, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products: Asteroidea secrete saponin sulphate as well as asterosaponins, which are compounds used as detergents and which are foaming agents when in solution. Astero-saponins are currently being studied for possible use in the treatment of cancerous tumours.
SOURCES
Books:
S. WEINBERG. Découvrir l’océan Pacifique tropical. Ed. Nathan, 2004. Coll. Découvrir.
Websites :
Photos Pauline BINCTEUX
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