Pacific triton hunts and eats crown-of-thorns starfish

The Pacific triton (Charonia tritonis, also known as the “giant triton”) is a large marine snail that inhabits coral reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region. They feed on echinoderms, and are particularly fond of crown-of-thorns starfish, a coral-eating starfish that occurs in outbreak proportions on the Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere. Despite the COTS sharp spines and having a highly toxic coating (saponin), tritons are highly effective COTS hunters, as shown in this video, taken at AIMS' Townsville facility.
For more information on AIMS research into the Pacific triton and COTS, head to: http://ow.ly/dRV3302yKns

Видео Pacific triton hunts and eats crown-of-thorns starfish канала Australian Institute of Marine Science