A unique discovery off the coast of Australia. A gigantic, 400-year-old coral

Off the coast of Palm Island, Queensland, Australia, researchers at James Cook University discovered the largest coral on the Great Reef during a diving course. Its age is estimated at over 400 years. The found colony of sea caviar of the genus Porites took the shape of a large sphere 10.4 meters in diameter and was named Muga dhambi. This name means “Big Coral” in the language of the indigenous peoples of the islands. Marine ecologist Adam Smith described the find extremely rare and very resistant. The expert estimates that over the years this huge sea colony has survived many natural “invasions”, such as ebb and cyclones, and destructive human activities. Muga dhambi is one of the most important types of reef-building corals. Due to its impressive size, it provides life to other species of corals and sea creatures. Scientists estimate that 70 percent of the sphere’s surface is covered by living organisms. In addition, there were no traces of …

expand—