Fact Friday

Crown of Thorns Starfish

Crown-of-Thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), also known as COTS, are named for their long venomous spines that cover their body and up to 23 arms. These menacing predators eat living coral and (for obvious reasons) they have few natural predators. Sometimes COTS populations can explode and completely destroy the coral on a reef. Learn more in this short education video: 

https://youtu.be/Yb0RvgxGkeg

Photo Credit: Ken Marks

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For Students

For Students

Below are online student worksheets that will reinforce and extend the knowledge you will learn in each unit of the Coral Reef Ecology Curriculum. There are three types of worksheets: Lessons, Watch It! worksheets that accompany educational YouTube videos, and Read It! worksheets that accompany our blogs.