Blue Linckia sea stars, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea

© Jurgen Freund/Minden Picture

Blue Linckia sea stars

In shallow portions of the tropical Indo-Pacific you’ll find the blue Linckia sea star. Oftentimes, they’re found anchored to or hiding under rocks. This duo was found in the New Ireland area of Papua New Guinea. Even though “blue” is in the name, this species of sea star has also been observed in purple, pink and orange. These colours make them very popular in the seashell trade, much to the detriment of their populations due to continuous harvesting. When left undisturbed, these starfish can live up to 10 years in the wild. Scientists have studied potential anti-tumour and antibacterial properties inherent to the blue Linckia.