The Crown Of Thorns Starfish – Acanthaster planci is a large, spiny starfish that is found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a voracious predator of coral polyps, and its populations can cause significant damage to coral reefs. The species is known for its distinctive appearance, with its bright red, orange, or yellow body covered in long, sharp spines.
Description & Characteristics
The Acanthaster planci can grow up to 35 cm in diameter, with a maximum size of 80 cm. Its body is typically covered in up to 23 arms, and its color ranges from red to orange to yellow, with a central disk. The spines are sharp and venomous, and they can inflict painful stings on humans.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Crown Of Thorns Starfish is a common inhabitant of coral reefs, preferring environments with plentiful coral polyps to feed upon. They can also be found on sandy sea floors in the Subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, deep zone of the oceans from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. neritic. zones. Their range spans the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and the coast of East Africa to the Pacific islands, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Taxonomy
The Acanthaster planci belongs to the Class: Asteroidea, Order: Valvatida, and Family: Acanthasteridae. This family includes a small number of starfish species that are all characterized by their sharp, venomous spines. The species is a fascinating and important part of the marine ecosystem, and its ecological role is being studied by scientists worldwide.
Feeding
The Crown Of Thorns Starfish is a specialized coral predator, known as a corallivorous feeder. They use their numerous arms to pry open the mouths of coral polyps, where they consume the soft tissues. Their diet is exclusively coral polyps, making them a food specialist.
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