World’s largest coral colony discovered off Australian coast by mother-daughter team
CNN • • world
Key Points:
- A mother-and-daughter citizen scientist team discovered the world’s largest known coral colony, a Pavona clavus, on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, measuring about 111 meters long and covering nearly 4,000 square meters.
- The coral’s size was verified through manual underwater measurements and high-resolution imagery, which enabled the creation of a 3D model to monitor changes over time.
- The site experiences strong tidal currents and low exposure to cyclone waves, conditions now being studied for their potential role in supporting such a large coral structure.
- The exact location of the coral has been kept confidential to prevent unintended damage, amid ongoing threats to reefs worldwide from bleaching events driven by rising marine temperatures.
- The discovery highlights the value
