Scientists say they have found the world’s largest coral near the Pacific’s Solomon Islands, announcing November 14 a significant discovery “pulsing with life and colour.”
The coral is so immense that researchers sailing the crystal waters of the Solomon archipelago initially thought they had stumbled across a hulking shipwreck.
“Just when we think there is nothing left to discover on planet earth, we find a massive coral made of nearly one billion little polyps, pulsing with life and colour,” marine ecologist Enric Sala said.
The researchers said the standalone structure had been growing for some 300 years and was formed from a “complex network” of tiny coral polyps.
They explained that it was distinct from a coral reef, made from many distinct coral colonies.
Measuring 34 metres wide (111 feet) and 32 metres long (104 feet), the team said the “mega coral” was three times bigger than the previous record holder — a coral dubbed “Big Momma” in American Samoa.
“While the nearby shallow reefs were degraded due to warmer seas, witnessing this large healthy coral oasis in slightly deeper waters is a beacon of hope,” said coral scientist Eric Brown.
The lush rainforests and pristine waters of Solomon Islands have long been celebrated for their ecological diversity.
AFP
