Small, hidden crabs may be the missing link influencing coral-eating starfish populations, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. While we know ...

Swimming crabs were observed eating juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish in aquarium experiments. (Supplied: Kennedy Wolfe)Dr Uthicke said the booms happened every 15-17 years, although scientists ...

Some of the crabs can eat 20 juveniles a day, whereas fish or triton may eat one adult every few days or per week,” he said. Researchers believe the crabs could be the 'missing link' in starfish ...

These starfish have up to 21 arms, more than 600 ovaries, and hundreds of toxin-tipped thorns. Each one can eat 10 square metres of coral a year - and there are millions of them.

A THIRD vessel will soon be plying the waters between Port Douglas and Townsville, culling the coral eating crown of thorns starfish. The Federal Government yesterday announced $14.4 million of ...

A THIRD vessel will soon be plying the waters between Port Douglas and Townsville, culling the coral eating crown of thorns starfish. The Federal Government yesterday announced $14.4 million of ...

A THIRD vessel will soon be plying the waters between Port Douglas and Townsville, culling the coral eating crown of thorns starfish. The Federal Government yesterday announced $14.4 million of ...

Often erroneously seen as docile or motionless, starfish are in fact voracious predators, Dr. Fraysse said, preying on sea urchins, crabs and, as Dr. Mah saw, even other starfish. “They control ...