Deep in the Pacific Ocean, scientists have discovered a remarkable new species of coral. The striking bright-yellow coral is unique and immediately constitutes a new scientific family. The expedition during which the coral was discovered took place in 2023.
Using the underwater robot SuBastian, extensive “coral gardens” were discovered at depths ranging from 360 to 529 meters. Scientists found these coral colonies on undersea mountains. It is remarkable that Laurinque elenya survives in an extremely harsh environment with very low oxygen levels and temperatures ranging from 8 to 10 °C.
The name of the coral, Laurinque elenya, was inspired by the books of J.R.R. Tolkien. In his stories, Laurinque means “golden tree,” and elenya means “stars.” This is a nod to the fact that the new species was found growing among thousands of brittle stars, creating stunning imagery.
Genetic testing
To classify the coral, the researchers combined microscopic analyses of the coral tissues with genetic DNA testing. This yielded a surprise. One gene indicated a relationship with crust-forming soft corals, while another gene indicated a relationship with an entirely different family of corals.
The coral appears to represent a unique, distinct evolutionary lineage within the octocorals. For this reason, the new family Laurinqueidae has been established.
The discovery underscores how little we still know about the deep sea and the importance of protecting undersea mountains. These types of unique ecosystems are classified as Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) and are highly sensitive to human disturbances such as bottom trawling or deep-sea mining.
You can find the full study here.
