Acanthaster

Acanthaster
Acanthaster planci
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Acanthasteridae
Genus: Acanthaster
Gervais, 1841[1]
Species
2, See text.
Synonyms[1]
  • Echinaster Gray, 1840
  • Echinities Müller & Troschel, 1844

Acanthaster is a bitypic genus of large and venomous starfish placed in its own family, Acanthasteridae. Its two members are known as crown-of-thorns starfish. Acanthaster are native to coral reefs in Indo-Pacific region.[2]

The species in this genus are a contributor to coral reef degradation because they prey on a large amount of live coral at high density.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ a b Mah, C. (2012). Acanthaster Gervais, 1841. In: Mah, C.L. (2012). World Asteroidea database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=205212 on 2012-03-23
  2. ^ a b Pratchett, Morgan S.; Cumming, Graeme S. (October 2019). "Managing cross-scale dynamics in marine conservation: Pest irruptions and lessons from culling of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.)". Biological Conservation. 238: 108211. Bibcode:2019BCons.23808211P. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108211. ISSN 0006-3207. S2CID 202015281.
  3. ^ Uthicke, Sven; Fisher, Eric E.; Patel, Frances; Diaz-Guijarro, Beatriz; Doyle, Jason R.; Messmer, Vanessa; Pratchett, Morgan S. (2019-09-30). "Spawning time of Acanthaster cf. solaris on the Great Barrier Reef inferred using qPCR quantification of embryos and larvae: do they know it's Christmas?". Marine Biology. 166 (10): 133. Bibcode:2019MarBi.166..133U. doi:10.1007/s00227-019-3582-5. ISSN 0025-3162.
  4. ^ Gilmour, James P.; Cook, Kylie L.; Ryan, Nicole M.; Puotinen, Marjetta L.; Green, Rebecca H.; Shedrawi, George; Hobbs, Jean-Paul A.; Thomson, Damian P.; Babcock, Russell C.; Buckee, Joanna; Foster, Taryn (2019-08-01). "The state of Western Australia's coral reefs". Coral Reefs. 38 (4): 651–667. Bibcode:2019CorRe..38..651G. doi:10.1007/s00338-019-01795-8. ISSN 1432-0975. S2CID 102484339.