Purple star

Scientific name : Linckia purpurea

Sea star with 5 cylindrical, very elongated arms, colour purple-violet. Papillae in velvety clusters, scattered like spots on all the dorsal surface. 40 cm diameter.
Encountered along the external reef.
Identified from Linkia laevigata by the purple colour and by the longer and thinner arms.

Associated organisms
It hosts the commensal shrimp Periclimenes soror.