A Scientist from Australia’s Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) has found what may be the rarest coral species in the Pacific Ocean, discovered while conducting an underwater survey at Arno atoll in the Marshall Islands located in the North Pacific.
The Pacific elkhorn coral in-situ at Arno Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Photo courtesy of Dean Jacobson.
The new coral species known as Pacific Elkhorn coral bears a strong resemblance to the endangered Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) found only in the Atlantic Ocean and primarily the Caribbean. Atlantic Elkhorn coral considered to be the primary reef building species of coral in the Caribbean has been witnessing a staggering decline over the last few years decimating almost 90-95% of this one prominent species. This new discovery of a colony of Pacific Elkhorn coral that possesses the same divergent branching resembling an elk’s antlers was initially thought to be Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) but was genetically analyzed and confirmed to be a completely new species.
Dr Zoe Richards of CoECRS, the researcher who discovered this colony of coral stated that he’d never seen something like this in the Pacific before, the coral was five meters (16ft) across and nearly two meters (6.5ft) high with branches fanning out like an elk’s antlers. There are expected to be around 200 colonies of Pacific Elkhorn in this tiny patch of reef on the Arno atoll, and judging by its size, they appear to be relatively old.
The archetypal divergent branching pattern of the Pacific elkhorn closely resembles that of the Atlantic elkhorn coral - Acropora palmata. Photo courtesy of Dr Maria Beger.
The significance of this find is still uncertain, as scientist attempt to ascertain the health of this colony of Elkhorn coral to determine whether the species is healthy, or in decline. Since Elkhorn coral are known to be foundational coral reef-building species, the study of this new species may shed some light on how to save its Atlantic cousin rapidly facing extinction.
Photo courtesy ARC Centre of Excellence
