Ateam of scientists from Uruguay has discovered that deep-sea coral reefs off the nation’s coast are thriving. The reefs are made up largely of a species recently listed as vulnerable to extinction and were documented during a Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition that concluded on 19 September.
Formed by Desmophyllum pertusum, a slow-growing cold-water stony coral, the reefs turned out to be healthier, larger and richer with life than expected. One of the largest reef complexes was found at a depth of 300 metres, stretching across 1.3 square kilometres, an area bigger than 180 football pitches. The tallest mound reached 40 metres in height.
“We always expect to find the unexpected, but the diversity and complexity of what we found