Where are crown-of-thorns starfish found on reefs?
The crown-of-thorns starfish prefers to live in more sheltered areas such as lagoons, and in deeper water along reef fronts. They generally avoid shallow water on the tops of reefs where the water conditions are likely to be more turbulent. Occasionally they may feed in these areas, particularly when the weather is calm. Consequently care should be taken when reef walking as they can produce a toxic and inflammatory reaction if trodden upon (see 31).
