Larval Development and Metamorphosis of Acanthaster planci (Asteroidea)

Abstract

LITTLE is known of the factors influencing survival during the planktonic phase of Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus), the crown of thorns starfish, apart from an observation of fish eating newly released eggs¹. But it is not surprising that this phase has been suggested as the cause of the recent plague of the animal in the Pacific^2–4, for large females release many millions of eggs each spawning season¹ and any factor which slightly reduces the mortality rate during planktonic life and settlement greatly increases recruitment into the starfish populations.