Crown-of-thorns Starfish is a large starfish that preys on hard coral polyps, frequently abbreviated COTS. It takes its name from the venomous, thorn-like spines covering its upper surface, which resemble the biblical crown of thorns, and it is one of the largest starfish in the world.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleVenomous or Dangerous to Humans 2 Living or Extinct Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Acanthaster planci
In Biome
Source Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Wikidata: Seahorse
Additional Source Great Barrier Reef - WikipediaArticle text
Source Wikidata: Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci)
Additional Source Raja Ampat Islands (Wikipedia)Article text
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Crown-of-thorns starfish (Wikipedia)
Lead section
The crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) is a large starfish that preys upon hard coral polyps.
lead paragraph (habitat realm), EntityId 326393
A. planci has a very wide Indo-Pacific distribution, perhaps most common around Australia, but can occur at tropical and subtropical latitudes from the Red Sea and the East African coast across the Indian Ocean
Lead
Acanthaster planci
View the Source2. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Crown-of-thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyEconomic Importance for Humans: Negative: Negative ImpactsQuote, Economic Importance for Humans: Negative: Negative Impacts
injures humans
3. Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) (Wikipedia)
- present tense, wide Indo-Pacific distribution
- In Biome: Coral Reef, Wikipedia intro states: "he Indian Ocean, and across the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of Central America. It occurs where coral reefs or hard coral communities occur in the region."
- In Biome: Coral Reef, Wikipedia intro: "he Indian Ocean, and across the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of Central America. It occurs where coral reefs or hard coral communities occur in the region."
View the SourceRaja Ampat Islands (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIn Ecosystem: Raja Ampat, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Raja Ampat, Article text
The crown-of-thorns starfish eats Raja Ampat's corals, and the destruction this causes among reefs has posed a threat to tourism.
Great Barrier Reef - Wikipedia
In Ecosystem: Great Barrier Reef, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Great Barrier Reef, Article text
Other environmental pressures on the reef and its ecosystem include runoff of humanmade pollutants, climate change accompanied by mass coral bleaching, dumping of dredging sludge and cyclic population outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Acanthaster planci
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyChild Taxon Of: Asteroidea, Taxon recordQuote, Child Taxon Of: Asteroidea, Taxon record
"class": "Asteroidea"
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