crown-of-thorns starfish
[ kroun-uhv-thawrnz ]
noun
a starfish, Acanthaster planci, that feeds on living coral polyps, causing erosion and destruction of coral reefs.
Origin of crown-of-thorns starfish
1First recorded in 1960–65
- Also called crown of thorns.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
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