Interesting Discovery

One of the world's largest corals has been mapped near the Cocos Islands

On the outer reef slope of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, researchers have discovered a huge coral colony. The Pachyseris coral stretches for 1.56 kilometres, roughly the length of one hundred buses parked one behind another, and extends at depths of 14 to 65 metres. Local dive organiser Dieter Gerhard first noticed its broad sections more than 30 years ago. Dr JP Hobbs, lead researcher at the University of Adelaide, spent several months mapping the colony, and it took 12 dives to image the entire area. The colony's average width is 36.5 metres, and its area is 56,940 square metres. Genetic tests are now being used to determine whether it is one giant organism or several colonies that have merged over time.

Not covered in Armenian media (checked 9 November)

This story is based on the organisation's press release.