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Acanthaster planci

The crown-of-thorns starfish is a large, multi-armed echinoderm found on coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific. Named for the venomous spines that cover its upper surface, it is a specialist predator of hard corals. It can reach diameters of up to 35 centimetres and possesses remarkable regenerative abilities, often regrowing lost limbs. Its population outbreaks are one of the most significant threats to modern reef health.

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