Luidia longispina Sladen 1889

FIGURE 34

Comments

This species was identified based on the elongate inferomarginal spines forming the fringe around the animal’s periphery. It was observed at 12 m depth on sandy substratum. Chiu et al. (1983) reported that 90% of this species’ diet was mollusks, primarily the semelid bivalve Theora lata . They also reported that this and another five-rayed Hong Kong species, Luidia hardwicki, could adopt either a selective or an opportunistic feeding strategy in response to both composition and abundance.

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 12 m.

Outside Hong Kong. Southern China, Philippines, Singapore, 12– 36 m.