The structure measures 34 meters in width and 32 meters in length, three times the size of the previous record holder, a coral called “Big Momma” from American Samoa. This coral is longer than a blue whale, according to AFP.
“We found a huge coral made up of nearly a billion tiny polyps, pulsating with life and color. It is an extraordinary discovery in a world where we thought we had discovered everything”, explained Enric Sala, marine ecologist.
Unlike a regular reef, which is made up of several separate coral colonies, this is a single structure that has grown over about 300 years. Researcher Molly Timmers offers a suggestive comparison: “If the old record, Big Momma, looked like a giant scoop of ice cream sitting on the reef, the newly discovered coral looks like ice cream that has melted and spread to the bottom of the sea.”
The coral was found in the area known as the “Three Sisters” in the southeastern part of the Solomon Islands. The discovery brings hope to researchers, especially as many coral reefs, including Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef, are affected by ocean warming and acidification.
Eric Brown, a specialist in the study of corals, emphasizes the importance of the discovery: “While the shallow reefs in the area have been degraded by warming seas, finding this huge oasis of healthy corals in deeper waters gives us hope for the future.”
The Solomon Islands are known for their extraordinary biodiversity, and this discovery once again confirms the region’s natural wealth. “We still have a lot to learn about marine life and ocean ecosystems,” said Solomon Islands official Collin Beck.
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(source: AFP)
Source: jurnalul.ro
