Spotted starfish are marine invertebrates known for their distinct appearance. These creatures inhabit various underwater environments, playing a role in marine ecosystems. Understanding their behaviors and characteristics offers insight into the diverse life beneath the ocean’s surface.
Identifying Spotted Starfish
Spotted starfish, scientifically known as Leiaster leachi, are often called Leach’s Sea Star or Purple Velvet Star. These sea stars feature a small central disc with long, cylindrical arms, which are usually of similar length.
Their body is covered by thick, smooth skin that conceals its skeletal plates and lacks prominent spines. Numerous small papillae also cover the body, aiding in oxygen extraction.
Coloration is notably variable, often cream or orange with irregular red spots and blotches. Some can display variegated orange-yellow, bright red, or reddish-purple tones, and may appear fluorescent blue underwater. They typically measure around 20 centimeters in diameter, though some large specimens reach up to 45 centimeters across.
Where Spotted Starfish Live
Spotted starfish primarily inhabit the Indo-Pacific region, with a wide distribution across tropical and subtropical marine zones. Their range extends from eastern Africa, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Gulf, eastward through southern and southeastern Asia, to Japan, Australia, and the Hawaiian Islands. They are also found in French Polynesia, Guam, Mauritius, Mozambique, New Caledonia, the Philippines, and the Seychelles.
These sea stars are found in coral communities, favoring habitats like reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs. They dwell within hard rocky substrates and on reef slopes. While they can occupy depths from 0 to 183 meters, they are commonly sighted in coral assemblages between 7 and 15 meters.
What Spotted Starfish Eat
Spotted starfish are primarily substrate film-feeders in their natural marine environments. They consume thin layers of organic material and microorganisms that coat underwater surfaces. They also graze on various rock-encrusting organisms.
Their diet can include small crustaceans. These feeding habits contribute to the health and balance of the reef ecosystems they inhabit.
Spotted Starfish Reproduction
Spotted starfish exhibit diverse reproductive strategies, utilizing both sexual and asexual methods. Sexual reproduction involves distinct male and female individuals. During spawning, males release streams of sperm into the water.
Asexual reproduction primarily occurs through regeneration, including autotomy, where a starfish can intentionally shed an arm. This detached arm, or even a fragment of the central disc with an arm, can then regenerate into a complete new individual. It is not uncommon to encounter spotted starfish with regenerating arms due to this capability.
The life cycle of sexually reproduced starfish begins with embryos that hatch into planktonic larvae. These larvae drift in the water column before undergoing metamorphosis. They transform into pentamorous juveniles, which are young sea stars with developing, stubby arms, eventually maturing into adult form.
Keeping Spotted Starfish in Aquariums
Keeping spotted starfish (Leiaster leachi) in a home aquarium presents significant challenges. This species has not been successfully kept in captivity, suggesting their specific environmental and dietary requirements are difficult to replicate.
Due to the absence of successful captive care records, detailed information regarding optimal tank requirements, water parameters, or specific feeding considerations is unavailable. Their specialized feeding habits as film-feeders on specific rock-encrusting organisms are particularly hard to accommodate in a closed system. Therefore, this species is not recommended for typical home aquariums.
Conservation Status
The conservation status of the spotted starfish (Leiaster leachi) has not been formally assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The species is currently categorized as “Not Evaluated,” meaning there is no specific information available regarding threats to its populations or conservation measures.