At about 112 feet wide, 105 feet long and 18 feet tall, the coral is enormous. It’s so big that scientists initially thought it was a shipwreck.
Scientists and filmmakers spotted the massive coral in the Solomon Islands in October and announced the news this week. They had been filming near the island of Malaulalo for National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project, which aims to promote the creation of new marine protected areas.
It's as large as two basketball courts, at least 300 years old and brimming with marine life: It’s the world’s largest coral.
Coral reefs are made up of many different, genetically distinct coral colonies. But the recently discovered organism is its own unique colony, consisting of millions of individual animals, called polyps, that are genetically identical.
The newly identified coral is mostly made up of knobby protrusions in a drab brown colour - but it also has more vibrant areas of blues, reds and yellows. Scientists spotted fish, crabs, shrimp and other marine creatures using the coral for shelter and breeding.
The coral’s discovery was welcome news to the leaders of the Solomon Islands, who say this new claim to fame could help boost conservation efforts and funding, as well as attract the attention of tourists and scientists.
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