A sea star shimp (Periclimenes soror), swims through a forest of spines on the back of a crown-of-thorns starfish, Micronesia, Pacific

A close-up of the underside of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), United States of America, North America

A crown-of-thorns sea star (Acanthaster planci) feeds on a living coral colony among the remote, tropical islands of Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

A starfish with spiny sea urchins at Quadra Island, British Columbia in Canada.

A crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) feeds on a coral reef growing near an island in the Banda Sea, Indonesia.

Spiny Starfish, County Clare, Munster, Republic of Ireland, Europe

Spiny Starfish Marthasterias glacialis

Spiny Starfish Marthasterias glacialis

Spiny Starfish Marthasterias glacialis (close up)

Detail of toxic Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), spines, crown of thorns, Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, UNESCO World Heritage, Australia, Oceania

Underside with mouth of spiny cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae), Detail, Starfish, Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Oceania

Close-up detail of a crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci); Maui, Hawaii, United States of America

Spiny Sunstar on reef, Alaska Pacific Ocean

Detail of Blue Spiny Starfish, Coscinasterias tenuispina, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean