Solvin Zankl / Close up of thorns of Crown of thorns starfish {Acanthaster planci} Sulawesi, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Crown of thorns starfish {Acanthaster planci} Andaman Sea, Thailand

Georgette Douwma / Crown of thorns starfish and butterflyfish on coral reef, Red Sea, Egypt.

Alex Mustard / Pair of crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster planci) feeding on a coral colony. La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, Gulf of California, East Pacific Ocean.

Shane Gross / Philippine dive guide looking at Crown-of-thorns sea star (Acanthaster planci) Malapascua, Philippines.

Nick Hawkins / Crown-of-thorns starfish, (Acanthaster planci). Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica.

Claudio Contreras / Crown of Thorns seastar (Acanthaster planci) detail, Espiritu Santo National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, February

Claudio Contreras / Crown of thorns seastar (Acanthaster planci) eating coral, Espiritu Santo National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, February

Claudio Contreras / Crown of Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster planci) eating coral, Espiritu Santo National Park, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, February

David Fleetham / Triton trumpet shell (Charonia tritonis) attacking a crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Triton trumpet shell (Charonia tritonis) attacking a crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), Hawaii.

Jordi Chias / Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) on the reef, Mozambique.