Topic: Research News
A team of scientists led by Dr. Odalisca Breedy has discovered a new coral species in the deep ocean off Costa Rica. The coral, named Laurinque elenya, is unlike any known coral family and was found at depths of 360-529 meters.
Scientists surveying underwater mountains off Costa Rica have identified a remarkable new coral that is unlike any known coral family. Its genetic makeup and physical features were so distinctive that researchers created an entirely new family to classify it.
The bright yellow coral, which has a branching, tree-like appearance, was discovered between 360 and 529 meters below the Pacific Ocean's surface. Some colonies grow more than a meter tall. Researchers collected specimens using the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian during expeditions in 2019 and 2023 aboard the research vessels Falkor and Falkor (too), which are operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
The coral was especially abundant on rocky outcrops where brittle stars covered nearly every available surface. Against this shimmering backdrop, the bright yellow branches appeared to rise from the seafloor like glowing trees surrounded by stars. That unusual scene helped inspire the scientific name.
The new genus, Laurinque, is derived from
Implications
A team of scientists led by Dr. Odalisca Breedy has discovered a new coral species in the deep ocean off Costa Rica. The coral, named Laurinque elenya, is unlike any known coral family and was found at depths of 360-529 meters.
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