Few sea creatures inspire as much awe and dread as the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. With up to 23 arms tipped with venomous spines, it can devour entire coral reefs, leaving devastation in its wake. But this spiny predator is more than just a coral-eating menace. From its eerie image-forming eyes to high-tech robots designed to hunt it down, the Crown-of-Thorns tells a story of ecological balance, scientific innovation, and the fight to protect our oceans’ most fragile ecosystems.

In this episode of Saltwater Stories, we dive deep into the world of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish: its biology, its mysterious outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef, the cultural knowledge of Pacific islanders, and the cutting-edge science battling to keep coral reefs alive. Get ready for venom, vision, and a battle beneath the waves.