Crown-of-Thorns starfish

Hordes of Crown-of-thorns starfish can devour coral reefs.

The Crown-of-Thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) feeds on coral. Low numbers of this starfish increase reef diversity, but large numbers can destroy reefs. Avoiding human activities that increase starfish numbers is more effective than trying to control Crown-of-Thorns outbreaks once they happen.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Crown-of-Thorns
• starfish
• sustainability
• coral
• reef
• marine
• ecology

[hargadee]

are they edible? If they're half as tasty as urchins, I'd harvest 'em.

[skizapper12]

wait, you wouldnt think that would hurt?

[blitzkregify]

@personman131 they become problems after humans have reduced the reefs natural resilience to the starfish, it is a combination of both human stresses and the CoT starfish that destroy reef systems

[dustylefou]

I think it's funny how the dude is saying that merely brushing up agains ta crown of thorns is incredibly painful, next scene you see some diver flipping one around, his hand only an inch away from touching it. lol

[skankysteve22]

@neilcool1988 60-70cm max (up to 12 years)

[neilcool1988]

how big do they get ?

[jondominguez12]

here in cebu phil, this summer 2010, I have just cleared our reef of about 1000 + of these horrific coral-killing machines machines, hope there won't be as super outbreak!!! there are some tritons here but not enough...

[billz11oz]

the worst part is that we kill the harlenquin shrimp for the shell, but the harlenquin is the only predator to the crown of thorns, i think.

[mermaidstar7]

they're also bad for the envr cuz they eat corals. (just learned it at the news)

[fishkeeping123]

ill kill all of them!!