crown-of-thorns starfish
[
kroun
-
uh
v-
thawrnz
]
/ˈkraʊn əvˈθɔrnz/
noun
1.
a starfish,
Acanthaster planci,
that feeds on living coral polyps, causing erosion and destruction of coral reefs.
Also called
crown of thorns
.
Origin
1960-65