Newly Discovered Deep-Sea Corals

It's a new age of discovery for scientists studying deep-sea corals. In this image gallery, take a look at a handful of the many species of deep-sea corals that have been discovered by marine scientists just since 2004. Explore more in the multimedia feature "Coral Gardens of the Deep Sea."  

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Corals

New Bamboo Coral

This species of bamboo coral, discovered in 2004 in the deep waters of the Pacific Northwest, has unusually long and impressive tentacles on its trunk. They billow in the current like a skirt. Learn about more deep-sea discoveries in our Deep-sea Corals article.

 

Credit: NOAA, WHOI, the Alvin Group, and the 2004 GOA Expedition

New Genus of Bamboo Coral

Found 1,751 m (5,745 ft) below the surface of Hawaii’s waters in 2007, this orange bamboo coral is 1.2–1.5 m (4–5 ft) tall. It is thought to represent a new genus. Learn about more deep-sea discoveries in our Deep-sea Corals article.

Credit: : Hawaii Deep-Sea Coral Expedition 2007/NOAA

New Bamboo Coral Discovery

Ocean scientists discovered this 1.5-m (5-ft) tall yellow bamboo coral in 2007 off the coast of Hawaii in 1,459 m (4,787 ft) of water. It is thought to represent a new genus. Learn about more deep-sea discoveries in our Deep-sea Corals article.

Credit: Hawaii Deep-Sea Coral Expedition 2007/NOAA

New Soft Coral

Discovered in 2004 and named in 2009, this Gersemia juliepackardae coral has been spotted and collected at several seamounts in the northeast Pacific Ocean at depths of 500-2,000 m (1,640-6,562 ft). Learn about more deep-sea discoveries in our Deep-sea Corals article.

 

Credit: © 2004 MBARI

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