The world’s largest coral has been found in the Solomon Islands, a remote nation made up of hundreds of small islands in the South Pacific.
The coral measures 111 feet wide, 101 feet long, and nearly 20 feet high. A coral, as you likely know, isn’t one single organism. Instead, it’s made up of a complex network of polyps that form a reef when “each individual stony coral organism — or polyp — secretes a skeleton of calcium carbonate.”
“The gigantic organism is a complex network of coral polyps — tiny individual creatures — that have grown over a span of three centuries,” a Nat Geo press release reads. “In contrast to a reef — which is a network of many coral colonies — this structure is a standalone coral that has grown uninterrupted for hundreds of years. “
Enormous corals generally grow very slowly, averaging around 0.2 to 0.8 inches each year. It’s suspected that this newly discovered reef took about three centuries to get to the size that it is today. Surprisingly, despite many of the corals in tropical seas coming under threat as the oceans warm, it is thriving.
The coral was discovered during a research expedition that began in October of 2024, and it is comprised entirely of a single species of colonial stony coral in the family Agariciidae called Pavona clavus. Like most reefs, it plays an integral role in its ecosystem, providing shelter, food and breeding grounds for untold numbers of creatures.
It was discovered by researchers on the National Geographic Pristine Seas team while they were exploring the Three Sisters Islands. The area is well-known for having a huge variety of coral species, but the sheer size of this one stunned them.
“At the time of widespread coral death because of human threats, it is extraordinary – and a big surprise – to find this old giant,” Dr. Enric Sala, founder of Pristine Seas, told The Straits Times. “Some corals are more resilient than others, and we are still trying to figure out why.”
The coral lies in waters between 40 and nearly 100 feet deep, and according to reports, shows no signs of bleaching. Coral bleaching happens when coral is stressed due to warmer-than-average water temperatures, and while they are naturally occurring, when the warm periods last for too long, the coral dies. On average, corals are in very dire straits around the world, due to warming and acidifying waters, among other things.
“Just when we think there is nothing left to discover on planet Earth, we find a massive coral made of nearly one billion little polyps, pulsing with life and color,” said Dr. Sala, also a National Geographic Explorer in Residence. “This is a significant scientific discovery, like finding the world’s tallest tree. But there is cause for alarm. Despite its remote location, this coral is not safe from global warming and other human threats.”
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, nearly half of all warm-water coral species are on the brink of extinction, so finding a huge one that doesn’t appear to be stressed could be important in saving others.
“The mega coral — mostly brown but with splashes of bright yellows, blues and reds — is covered with ripples of waves, mirroring the ocean’s surface,” the team wrote. “It is longer than the planet’s biggest animal, the blue whale.”
