GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The starfish, often referred to as COTS, are native to the Great Barrier Reef, and not an introduced species. They occur naturally throughout the Indo-Pacific region, on coral reefs from the Red Sea to the west coast of the Americas.

Detailed explanation-2: -They can be found on rocky shores, in seagrass, kelp beds, coral reefs, tidal pools and also in sand. Some live as deep as 6000 meters (20.000 ft) in the ocean floor. Many species live and feed around shallow coral reef makes them easily noticeable.

Detailed explanation-3: -Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS for short) feed on coral. These spiky marine creatures occur naturally on reefs in the Indo Pacific region, including the Great Barrier Reef.

Detailed explanation-4: -Sea stars live in salt water and are found in all of the world’s oceans, from warm, tropical waters to the cold seafloor. Sea stars are mostly carnivorous and prey on mollusks-including clams, mussels and oysters-which they pry open with their suction-cupped feet.

Detailed explanation-5: -More than 100 countries have a coral reef within their borders, and over half of the world’s coral reefs are found within six countries: Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Maldives.