Crown-of-thorns starfish

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/crown-of-thorns-starfish

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Crown-of-thorns starfish?First described scientifically in the 18th century
2. What is the scientific name?Acanthaster planci
3. What is the habitat?Coral reefs in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific
4. What does a crown-of-thorns starfish look like?The crown‑of‑thorns starfish is a big starfish with up to five arms and a blanket of sharp, 5‑cm spines that look like a crown. It can be many colors—reds, purples, greens, and browns—so it blends in with coral reefs.
5. Why is the crown-of-thorns starfish dangerous?Its spines hold venom glands, so if a fish or other animal tries to eat it, the venom makes the starfish taste bad and can hurt the predator.

Echinoderm: A phylum of marine animals including starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.
Aboral Surface: The upper or back side of a starfish, opposite the mouth.
Zooxanthellae: Symbiotic algae that live within coral tissues and provide them with energy.
Trophic Structure: The organization of an ecological community based on feeding relationships.