A colossal organism, dwarfing all expectations, has been discovered in the Pacific Ocean near Malaulalo, Solomon Islands. It's not a leviathan of the deep or a gargantuan whale, but rather an example of Pavona clavus – a type of stony coral.
Despite its plant-like appearance, coral is actually part of the same group of marine creatures as jellyfish and sea anemones. They group together, forming colonies encased in a rigid, stony shell anchored to the seabed.
This particular coral colony is smashing records at 34 meters (110ft) wide, 32 meters (105ft) long, and approximately 5.5 meters (18ft) high, surpassing the previous record-holder of a singular coral from American Samoa by about 12 meters.
The discovery was made completely by chance by cameraman Manu San Felix while on a shipwreck exploration with National Geographic's Pristine Seas expedition.
Manu said: "It's amazing to see something so large and so old - about 300 years old - recovering despite such significant changes in the environment."
Coral reefs are under siege globally due to climate change-induced ocean acidification, pollution, overfishing, and harmful fishing practices.
However, despite the general vulnerability of corals, Pavona clavus is listed as being of 'least concern' on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List. The expedition team who discovered this specific specimen described the coral as in "excellent health".
According to National Geographic, the coral is so massive that it could be seen from space. The lead scientist of the expedition, Molly Timmers, said the discovery of the gigantic organism was "really serendipitous. " She further added: "It was found the night before we were moving to another section."
Helen Findlay, a biological oceanographer at Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the U.K., who wasn't part of the expedition, expressed her surprise saying: "It's amazing that they've just found this and nobody really noticed before."
While the organism discovered off the Solomon Islands is the largest singular piece of coral, it pales in comparison to the largest coral reef – The Great Barrier Reef.
Located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, it spans approximately 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) and covers an area of roughly 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 square miles). The reef is composed of nearly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands, making it the most extensive coral reef ecosystem on Earth.
The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to an incredible diversity of marine life, including over 1,500 species of fish, 400 species of coral, and various other species like sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins. However, it is under threat from climate change, coral bleaching, pollution, and other environmental pressures.