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Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Sting

Like most starfish and sea urchins, the crown-of-thorns (Acanthaster planci) packs a particularly potent venom. In fact, the thorns are sharp and stout enough to pierce a thick wetsuit.

This help guide contains tips for avoiding starfish sting and the recommended dive medicine for treating the painful symptoms of poisonous puncture wounds.

How to Avoid Crown of Thorns Toxic Poison?

Acanthaster planci is one of the biggest of all starfish species. It thrives best in Australia and the Indo-Pacific regions.

These large poisonous marine invertebrates prey mostly on stony coral polyps (called Scleractinia).

The upper body, including its central disk and arms, contains venomous thorn-like spines.

Even so, crown-of-thorns (COTS) are bottom dwellers. In other words, physical contact with the sharp spines is usually accidental and easy to avoid.

Pro Tip: Another section explains the difference between active and passive interaction with aquatic life, and why most puncture wound injuries result from human carelessness.

Crown of Thorns Poisoning Symptoms

In fact, the spines have no specific mechanism for injecting the powerful toxin contained inside the spines and the gelatinous covering.

Instead, divers or snorkelers who stand on them, or handle them, may suffer significant stinging pain and several other systemic symptoms (e.g. vomiting).

For the most part, the toxin released through a crown-of-thorns spine envenomation may cause (more than one):

Note: The typical signs and symptoms of thorn poisoning may persist from thirty (30) minutes up to three (3) hours before they start to resolve themselves.

Crown of Thorns Starfish Sting Treatment

Related Information and Help Guides

Pro Tip: These guidelines are recommended in treating a crown-of-thorns puncture wound when medical attention is not immediately available. Anyone running a dive shop has a duty of care for helping injured divers. Use common sense and be prepared to have them evaluated by a medical professional.

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