A coral among the stars: New species discovered on Costa Rica's deep-sea seamounts
Scientists exploring seamounts off the coast of Costa Rica have discovered a new coral so genetically and morphologically distinct that it required the creation of an entirely new family for its classification. Bright yellow and tree-like, the coral was found growing some 360 to 529 meters (1,180 to 1,735 feet) beneath the surface of the Pacific. The discovery is described in the open-access…
Scientists exploring deep-sea seamounts off Costa Rica's coast have discovered a new coral species so genetically and morphologically distinct that it requires a new family classification. Bright yellow and tree-like, the coral was found at depths between 360 to 529 meters below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. The coral colonies, which can grow over a meter tall, were collected during 2019 and 2023 expeditions by the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessels Falkor and Falkor (too).
Thriving on rocky outcrops covered by brittle stars, the coral's golden branches rose like glowing trees, inspiring its Quenya-inspired name, Laurinque elenya. Phylogenomic analysis revealed the coral does not belong to any known family, representing a unique evolutionary lineage most closely related to the Eunicellidae family. This discovery highlights the vast unexplored portions of the deep ocean, covering about two-thirds of the planet's surface, and underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems.
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