Short-spined crown-of-thorns starfish

Como reconhecer

• Dense, blunt spines cover the upper surface of its central disc.1
• The upper surface is purple-brown and gets darker towards the arms.1
• Darker blotches run around the edge of the disc and along the arms, with a large blotch at the base of each arm.1
• Pale marks sit on the disc between each arm.1
• Its arm spines are shorter than those of the common crown-of-thorns starfish.1

Muitas vezes confundido com: It is most often confused with the common crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci. The short-spined species has blunt spines on its upper surface, short pedicellaria (tiny pincer-like structures), pale marks between the arms and shorter arm spines. The common species has longer arm spines and lacks the pale marks.1