Crown-of-Thorns Starfish

About the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish

One of the largest starfish in the world and the most destructive. A single individual can eat 10 square meters of coral per year. Outbreaks can devastate entire reef systems. They are covered in venomous thorns that cause severe pain. They are a major contributor to coral reef decline, second only to bleaching. Their population explosions may be linked to agricultural runoff. They can regenerate from just one arm and part of the central disc. They have 13-21 arms. The Great Barrier Reef has lost significant coral to outbreaks. Control methods include manual removal and targeted injections.