<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758) </Td> </Tr> <P> The crown - of - thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, is a large, multiple - armed starfish that usually preys upon hard, or stony, coral polyps (Scleractinia). The crown - of - thorns starfish receives its name from venomous thorn - like spines that cover its upper surface, resembling the biblical crown of thorns . It is one of the largest starfish in the world . </P> <P> A. planci has a very wide Indo - Pacific distribution . It is perhaps most common in Australia, but can occur at tropical and subtropical latitudes from the Red Sea and the east African coast across the Indian Ocean, and across the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of Central America . It occurs where coral reefs or hard coral communities occur in this region . </P> <P> The body form of the crown - of - thorns starfish is fundamentally the same as that of a typical starfish, with a central disk and radiating arms . Its special traits, however, include being disc - shaped, multiple - armed, flexible, prehensile, and heavily spined, and having a large ratio of stomach surface to body mass . Its prehensile ability arises from the two rows of numerous tube feet that extend to the tip of each arm . In being multiple - armed, it has lost the five-fold symmetry (pentamerism) typical of starfish, although it begins its life cycle with this symmetry . </P>

Where do crown of thorns starfish come from
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