crown-of-thorns starfish

[ kroun-uh v-thawrnz ]
/ ˈkraʊn əvˈθɔrnz /

noun

a starfish, Acanthaster planci, that feeds on living coral polyps, causing erosion and destruction of coral reefs.
Also called crown of thorns.

Origin of crown-of-thorns starfish

First recorded in 1960–65