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

There has been some success with the Australian government's crown-of-thorns starfish culling programme, which has killed over 50,000 starfish by injecting them with vinegar or ox bile.

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

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

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

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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.

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