Coral predator, Culcita novaeguineae preys on Acanthaster cf. solaris , another coral predator

2026/01/01 by Masumi Kamata, Takuma Mezaki, Nina Yasuda
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies #Echinoderm biology and ecology #Marine Sponges and Natural Products

paper · doi:10.5343/bms.2026.0003

Abstract

Population outbreaks of coral eating starfish can drive coral reef decline. We observed that the coral predator Culcita novaeguineae fed on fresh tissue of another coral predator, Acanthaster cf. solaris . This observation can provide rare empirical evidence of trophic interactions involving a potential of A. cf. solaris predator.

Related

• Reef Corals: Mutualistic Symbioses Adapted to Nutrient-Poor Environments
• Coral species composition drives key ecosystem function on coral reefs
• Cryptic predation on coral spawn: Hidden trophic links in the dead of night
• The crown-of-thorns seastar species complex: knowledge on the biology and ecology of five corallivorous Acanthaster species
• Protection of coral reef fish delivers ecosystem-critical biocontrol of coral-eating starfish across the Great Barrier Reef