Linckia laevigata

Linckia laevigata (Linnaeus, 1758): 662 [As Asterias laevigata] “Not recorded in present study.” Previously reported from the Persian Gulf: (Purwati & Lane 2004; Adeli et al. 2022). Despite the publications listed above, the existence of Linckia laevigata in the Persian Gulf should remain circumspect. Purwati and Lane (2004) reported on the asteroid fauna of an expedition to the Anambas Islands in the southern South China Sea, listing the Persian Gulf as a further locality for L. laevigata. We were unable to trace any primary reference for this statement. Adeli et al (2022) reported on the first traceable specimens of L. laevigata from the Persian Gulf, but their images and description are not definitive for identification of this species.