Scientist discover world’s largest coral in South Pacific
Team called it a ‘mega coral’, saying it is three times bigger than the previous record holder.
Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Last month, scientists found the world’s largest coral near the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. The coral was so big that they first thought it was a shipwreck.
The coral had been growing for about 300 years. A coral is made up of hundreds to thousands of tiny coral creatures called polyps (see graphic).
“Just when we think there is nothing left to discover on planet Earth, we find a massive coral made of nearly one billion little polyps, pulsing with life and colour,” marine ecologist Enric Sala said.
It is different to a coral reef, which is made from many coral colonies.
The coral measured 34 metres wide and 32 metres long. The team said the “mega coral” was three times bigger than the previous record holder – a coral dubbed “Big Momma” in American Samoa.
“Big Momma looked like a huge scoop of ice cream plopped down on the reef. This newly discovered coral is as if the ice cream started to melt, spreading forever along the sea floor,” said lead scientist Molly Timmers.
It was longer than a blue whale and was thought to be so big that it could “be seen from space”.
Coral reefs provide food and shelter for many sea animals. Tiny creatures use the coral as a hiding place, while fish that eat algae keep the coral clean. This creates a balanced environment for sea creatures.
Questions
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What is the difference between a coral reef and a single coral?
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Why are coral reefs important for the ocean?