Crown of Thorns Starfish

The crown-of-thorns receives its name from venomous thorn-like spines that cover its. The crown-of-thorns is a corallivore, a carnivorous predator that preys on reef coral polyps. They climb onto reef structures, and then extrude their stomach onto the coral. This releases digestive enzymes that allow the starfish to absorb nutrients from the liquefied coral tissue.