What is the scientific name of the crown-of-thorns starfish found on the Great Barrier Reef?

The crown-of-thorns starfish found on the Great Barrier Reef is scientifically identified as Acanthaster cf. solaris. It is a large, spiny sea star that feeds on living coral tissue.

The abbreviation “cf.” means “compare with” and reflects taxonomic uncertainty in the species complex. For many years, crown-of-thorns starfish across the Indo-Pacific were commonly called Acanthaster planci. Later genetic and morphological research separated several closely related lineages, including the Great Barrier Reef form.

This animal is a natural coral predator, but outbreaks can cause extensive coral loss when starfish numbers become unusually high. Its long, venomous spines make it hazardous to handle. The starfish is not a true fish; like other echinoderms, it is an invertebrate related to sea urchins and brittle stars.