New Coral Species Found in Deep-Sea Mountains Off Costa Rica

Topic: Biology

Scientists discovered a new coral species on seamounts off Costa Rica's coast. The coral is bright yellow and tree-like, growing up to 3 feet tall. It was found at depths of 1,180 to 1,735 feet.

Scientists exploring the deep sea off Costa Rica have made an exciting discovery - a new coral species that is unlike any other known coral. The coral, which has been named Laurinque elenya, is bright yellow and tree-like in shape, growing up to 3 feet tall.

The team of scientists used a remotely operated vehicle called SuBastian to collect samples from the seamounts off Isla del Coco and the Costa Rican Pacific margin. They found the coral thriving on rocky outcrops that were covered with brittle stars, creating a shimmering star-strewn seafloor.

The researchers were inspired by the beauty of the landscape and decided to name the coral after the Elvish language from J.R.R. Tolkien's books. The name 'Laurinque' means 'golden tree' in Quenya, while 'elenya' means 'stellar' or 'of the stars'.

The team used a technique called phylogenomics to analyze hundreds of genes and determine that the coral does not belong to any known family but represents a unique evolutionary lineage. This led them to create a new family, Laurinqueidae, and a new genus, Laurinque, specifically for this species.

Dr. Odalisca Breedy from Universidad de Costa Rica led the research team and said that they were impressed by the beauty of the landscape and realized that the coral was something very different after preliminary morphological analysis.

Why It Matters

This discovery is important because it shows how much of the deep ocean remains unexplored. Coral gardens like this one are considered vulnerable marine ecosystems, providing habitat for a wide range of species.

Key Facts

• A new coral species was discovered on seamounts off Costa Rica's coast.
• The coral is bright yellow and tree-like, growing up to 3 feet tall.
• It was found at depths of 1,180 to 1,735 feet.
• The team used a remotely operated vehicle called SuBastian to collect samples.
• The coral was named after the Elvish language from J.R.R. Tolkien's books.

Key Terms

Phylogenomics

A technique that analyzes hundreds of genes to determine evolutionary relationships between species

Seamounts

Underwater mountains or hills formed by volcanic activity

Implications

This discovery is important because it shows how much of the deep ocean remains unexplored. Coral gardens like this one are considered vulnerable marine ecosystems, providing habitat for a wide range of species.