Pristine coral reef discovered in deep water off the coast of Tahiti
New ScientistMAR 11 2022
A National Geographic videographer has found the world's largest coral — so big it can reportedly be seen from space — near the Solomon Islands. The 105 feet-by-111 feet, brown-and-bright yellow "mega coral" is said to be 300 years old and bigger than a blue whale.
Marine ecologist Enric Sala reportedly said the coral — three times bigger than "Big Momma," the previous record holder, in American Samoa — is "made of nearly one billion little polyps." It was found in October during a study of the effects of hotter and more acidic oceans.
Belonging to the Pavona clavus — or "shoulder blade" — species, it “is an enormous encyclopaedia that has written how to survive multiple climatic conditions.” Scientists hope this "really serendipitous” discovery inspires more protections for marine life.A night before the National Geographic team was to move to a new section of the sea, it caught sight of what was initially assumed to be the remains of a shipwreck. On diving to explore, videographer Manu San Félix was stunned to find a coral “close to the size of a cathedral.”
The discovery of the massive Solomon Islands “mega coral,” thriving despite warming oceans, reveals the resilience of some species and the endurance of ocean ecosystems. This unique coral demonstrates the potential for survival, inspiring both conservation efforts and optimism for coral recovery in a changing world.
Healthy marine ecosystems rely on diverse coral species, not single giants, to thrive under increasing pressures from climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Without bold climate action and protection of diverse reef ecosystems, coral reefs—and the myriad species that depend on them—could be lost within decades. The world must act now, not become complacent.