[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]
Crown of Thorns Seastar - Talamea
(Acanthaster
planci)
Photo by Gerick Bergsma
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Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Great Barrier Reef, Hawiian islands. |
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Can be found on seabeds and reefs, but prefer to be sheltered from strong currents and weather. |
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Crown of Thorns Seastars feed on coral polyps by spreading their stomach out through the mouth, secreting digestive juices, and sucking in the remains. |
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Touching the spines of the crown-of-thorns seastar can be very painful, because each spine releases toxic chemicals into the skin when it stings. |
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- University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - Moorea Biocode Database |
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