Eyes and negative phototaxis in juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish, species complex.

As a corallivore, the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; species complex), has significant impacts on coral mortality and community structure on tropical reefs throughout its Indo-Pacific range. COTS form aggregations which systematically move through and across reefs causing significant loss in hard coral cover. Previous work has shown that their behaviours on the reef are influenced by rheotaxis, olfaction and vision, with vision guiding adult animals to their coral habitat at short distances.