Centrostephanus

Characteristics

Centrostephanus species are characterized by their large size, ranging from 10 to 20 cm in diameter. They have long, sharp spines, which can be up to 5 cm long and are covered in venomous mucus. These spines are used for defense against predators. They are typically dark brown to black in color, but some species can be green or red.

Environment

Centrostephanus species are found in a variety of marine environments, including coral reefs, rocky shores, and seagrass beds. They prefer shallow waters, but some species can be found in deeper waters.

Species

There are four recognized species of Centrostephanus:

• Centrostephanus coronatus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Crown-of-thorns starfish, the most common species, found in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Centrostephanus rodgersii (Agassiz, 1863) - Found in the Pacific coast of North America.
• Centrostephanus longispinus (Agassiz, 1863) - Found in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Centrostephanus tenuispinus (Agassiz, 1863) - Found in the Atlantic Ocean.

References

• World Register of Marine Species
• The Ecology of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) and its Impact on Coral Reefs