Sea-cucumber (e.g.
Hofothuria ieucospilota)
Colour: Various colours, according to
species
Location: Sandy bottoms.
Description: Sausage-shaped bodies. When
disturbed, many species produce sticky
white threads from arms. Material from
these may cause inflammation of human
eyes or skin.
INFORMATION SHEET A
Dangerous reef creatures
Crown-of-thorns starfish
(Acanrhaster
planci)
Colour: Blue-grey arms often with reddish-
orange tips
Location:
Description: Up to 60cm in diameter and
up to 16 arms covered with short, sharp
spines. Spines can penetrate human skin.
Venom may be injected. Slime on the
starfish can irritate human skin.
Sea-urchins with long spines (e.g.
Diadema
setosum, described below)
Colour: Black
Location: On sandy bottoms or under rocks
in reef-top pools or on reef slope.
Description: Have very slender needle-like
spines about 25 cm long. The spines are very
brittle and sharp. They can easily penetrate
and break off in human skin.
Stonefish (e.g.
Synanceia horrida,
described
below)
Colour: Brownish; mottled
Location: Buried in mud, coral or rocks in
shallow water.
Description: About 30cm long. Lies quietly
concealed on bottom. Strong spines along
the back pierce human body if trodden on
or touched. Venom is discharged into
wound.
Bristle worm (e.g.
furythoe complanata,
described below)
Colour: Salmon pink
Location: Under boulders or in weed mats
on reefs.
Description: Bod} up to 14 cm long with a
pair of short hollow bristles on each
segment. The bristles contain venom which
causes painful injury if touched.
Butterfly cod (Pterois
vofitans)
Colour: Red and white striped
Location: In reef-top lagoons and reef slope
habitats. often under ledges or in caves.
Description: Up to 35 cm long. Brightly
coloured. Have long spines along the back
and in the anal and pelvic areas. The spines
can pierce human flesh and venom passes
along the spine into the wound.
