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Crown-of-Thorns Starfish — printable fact sheet
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Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
Acanthaster planci
The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish is a large, spiny sea star native to coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. Characterized by its numerous long, venomous spines and up to 21 arms, this starfish can grow up to 60 cm in diameter. It is famous for its voracious appetite for coral poly…
Did you know?
- A single adult Crown-of-Thorns Starfish can consume up to 6 square meters of living coral per year.
- Crown-of-Thorns Starfish can regenerate lost arms, sometimes regrowing an entire body from a single arm. Their population outbreaks can significantly alter reef ecosystems, sometimes leading to extensive coral loss. These starfish secrete toxins from their spines that can cause painful stings in humans.
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