The Crown Of Thorn Starfish
What you should know about the crown of thorns starfish.
The crown of thorn starfish. These spiky marine creatures occur naturally on reefs in the indo pacific region including the great barrier reef. The crown of thorns starfish is a sea star named for the spines that cover its body and arms. The adult has from 12 to 19 arms is typically 45 centimetres 18 inches across and feeds on coral polyps.
Crown of thorns starfish acanthaster planci reddish and heavy spined species of the phylum echinodermata. The crown of thorns starfish receives its name from venomous thorn like spines that cover its upper surface resembling the biblical crown of thorns. They are generally 25 35 cm in diameter although they can be as large as 80 cm.
They occur naturally on reefs throughout the indo pacific region and when conditions are right they can reach plague proportions and devastate hard coral communities. One of the most noticeable features of the crown of thorns starfish is the spines which may be up to two. Crown of thorns starfish also known as cots are marine invertebrates that feed on coral.
Crown of thorns starfish prefer relatively undisturbed waters found in. It is one of the largest starfish in the world. Crown of thorns starfish cots for short feed on coral.
Covered in long poisonous spines they range in color from purplish blue to reddish gray to green. They tend to eat the faster growing corals which gives the slower growing species a chance to catch up enhancing the coral diversity of our reefs. Beginning about 1963 it increased enormously on australias great barrier reef.
Crown of thorns starfish cots acanthaster planci are a naturally occurring corallivore ie they eat coral polyps on coral reefs. Crown of thorns starfish are gorgeous killers description. Acanthaster planci more commonly known as the crown of thorn starfish is a voracious predator which feeds on stony coral polypsthe starfish gets its name from the toxic thorn like spines covering its body which resemble a biblical crown of thorns.