Long Presumed Dead, a West African Reef Is Found Thriving
Sixty years after surveyors first uncovered evidence of a sprawling coral reef off the West African nation of Benin, scientists have at last found the reef. Read more on E360 →
Sixty years after surveyors discovered evidence of a sprawling coral reef off the coast of Benin, scientists have finally found the reef. The reef, teeming with marine life, was rediscovered by a team of Beninese scientists who recognized an eight-mile-long coral reef barrier along the coastline after reviewing a 1960s report. The reef, classified as a mesophotic coral ecosystem, is home to six types of soft coral, two black corals, and eight species of fish.
Scientists hope that the discovery of the reef, which is undisturbed and can provide insights into past climate systems, will lead to increased research and conservation efforts in the Gulf of Guinea.
Written by urgent.news from Yale Environment 360's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
