{{Short description|Genus of starfishes}} {{Automatic Taxobox | image = Linckia multifora 1.jpg | image_caption = ''Linckia multifora'' | taxon = Linckia | authority = Nardo, 1834 | type_species = ''Linckia laevigata'' | type_species_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonyms = *''Calliophidiaster'' <small>Tommasi, 1970</small> *''Cribrella'' <small>L. Agassiz, 1835</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name="worms"/> }}
'''''Linckia''''' is a genus of sea stars found mainly in the Indo-Pacific region. They are known to be creatures with remarkable regenerative abilities, and capable of defensive autotomy against predators. They reproduce asexually.
The genus is named after the German naturalist Johann Heinrich Linck (1674–1734).
==Systematics== Five groups within ''Linckia'' have been clearly genetically differentiated - ''L. columbiae'', ''L. bouvieri'', two clades within ''L. guildingi'', and one clade with two subclades consisting of both ''L. laevigata'' and ''L. multifora'' .<ref>Williams, S.T., Species boundaries in the starfish genus Linckia. Marine Biology, Vol 136, No 1, p.137-148 (2000)</ref> A list of species of ''Linckia'':<ref name="worms">{{cite WoRMS |title=''Linckia'' |id=178186 |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref>
*''Linckia bouvieri''<small> Perrier, 1875</small> (=''Linckia formosa'') *''Linckia columbiae''<small> Gray, 1840</small> (=''Ophidiaster colombiae'', ''Phataria fascialis'') * ''Linckia gracilis''<small> Liao, 1985</small> *''Linckia guildingi''<small> Gray, 1840</small> (=''Linckia diplax'', ''Linckia ehrenbergii'') * ''Linckia kuhli''<small> von Martens, 1866</small> *''Linckia laevigata''<small> (Linnaeus, 1758)</small> (=''Linckia miliaris'') *''Linckia multifora''<small> (Lamarck, 1816)</small> (=''Linckia costae'', ''Linckia leachi'', ''Linckia typus'', ''Ophidiaster multiforis'') *''Linckia nodosa''<small> Perrier, 1875</small> (=''Calliophidiaster psicodelica'', ''Linckia bullisi'') * ''Linckia tyloplax''<small> H.L. Clark, 1914</small>
Some sources also give : *''Linckia hypnicola'' *''Linckia hystrix'' *''Linckia purpurea'' *''Linckia diplax''
<gallery style="text-align:center;" mode="packed"> Image:Guildings's sea star.jpg|''Linckia guildingi'' Image:Linckia laevigata Tonga.jpg|''Linckia laevigata'' Image:Linckia multifora Réunion.jpg|''Linckia multifora'' Image:Linckia nodosa.jpg|''Linckia nodosa'' </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}} *[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=157047 ITIS taxonomic information about ''Linckia''] *[https://www.hawaiisfishes.com/books/hawaiis_sea_creatures/creaturebook.htm Hawaii's Sea Creatures] (info from hard-copy book)
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Category:Linckia Category:Taxa named by Giovanni Domenico Nardo
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