alamea

== Tongan == === Etymology === From Proto-Polynesian *talamea with irregular loss of /t/. By surface analysis, (t)ala (“thorn, spike”) +‎ mea (“light red/brown”), literally “[it has] light red/brown spikes [on it]”, referring to the venomous thornlike spines that cover its upper surface. === Noun === alamea starfish, specifically crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) Near-synonym: mangamangaʻātai === References === Churchward, C. Maxwell (1959), “alamea”, in Tongan dictionary: Tongan-English and English-Tongan, London, England: Oxford University Press, →OCLC, page 5