crown-of-thorns starfish

[ kroun-uhv-thawrnz ]

noun

1. a starfish, Acanthaster planci, that feeds on living coral polyps, causing erosion and destruction of coral reefs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of crown-of-thorns starfish¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Scientists are one step closer to combating coral-destroying crown-of-thorns starfish, following a University of Queensland study into the pest's genetics.

From Science Daily

"The Reef has demonstrated its capacity to recover from previous coral bleaching events, severe tropical cyclones, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks."

From BBC

In 2010, crown-of-thorns starfish and a cyclone destroyed more than 99% of the corals, effectively hitting the reset button on the reef.

From Science Daily

Research conducted by marine biologists from the University of Sydney has found juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish can withstand tremendous heatwaves well above levels thatkill coral.

From Science Daily

The crown-of-thorns starfish is nature's ultimate coral predator, with a circle of life perfectly adapted to warming waters.

From Science Daily