The team of National Geographic certainly did not expect such an encounter during their underwater exploration mission. In the crystal clear waters of the Solomon Islands (southeast of Papua New Guinea), aboard the oceanographic vessel Pristine Seas, scientists encountered an exceptional creature: a specimen of Peacock nail a species of coral, reaching the staggering dimensions of two basketball courts combined.
An extraordinary size
When the first echoes appeared on the Pristine Seas' sonars, researchers initially thought they were spotting a sunken wreck. The surprise was complete when the divers noticed that it was a living organism, located approximately 13 meters deep. This aquatic behemoth displays exceptional measurements : 34 meters wide by 32 meters long, rising to 5.5 meters high with a circumference reaching 183 meters.
The underwater filmmaker Manu San Félix, expert in tropical marine environments, was able to authenticate this structure as belonging to the species Peacock naila hard coral characteristic of Indo-Pacific waters, but usually observed in much more modest forms.
This is all the more exceptional since corals, although builders of complex marine ecosystems, have growth limits intrinsic linked to their physiology and their mode of reproduction. Indeed, this is a very slow and progressive phenomenon, depending on a multitude of factors: water temperature, nutrient availability, exposure to sunlight, etc.
Coral species, even the most massive, generally do not exceed a few meters in diameter and colonies several meters in diameter are already considered exceptional.
A complex biological structure
Even more astonishing: unlike traditional coral reefs which form colonies composed of multiple organisms, this specimen constitutes a unique biological entity. Its structure is based on a sophisticated network of billions of polyps, these tiny genetically identical marine animals which, together, built this underwater cathedral over a period estimated between 300 and 500 years.
This uninterrupted growth demonstrates of remarkable resistance in the face of the multiple environmental upheavals that have occurred since the 17th century. The shimmering hues of its structure – a subtle shades of browns, reds, yellows and blues – shelter an ecosystem of exceptional richness.
However, scientists have noticed that this organism, although appearing healthy overall, already has damaged areasparticularly those located at less depth. Like all corals, it is very vulnerable to the deleterious effects of human activity and global warming, which increases ocean temperatures and acidifies the waters. For Molly Timmers, scientific director of the expedition, her discovery remains encouraging: “ You have this pillar of life which is still there, It gives you this wonder, this hope. Just looking at its size – mega-coral – and the fact that it survives in an area that wasn't particularly healthy ».
A giant among others
Peacock nail is exceptional for its imposing size, but it is not the only living being on Earth to have such dimensions. To put these dimensions into perspective, the largest living thing in the world is Pando, a colony of aspen trees (Utah), which measures 43 hectares. This is not considered a forest in the strict sense, since it is made up of 47,000 trees, clones that live thanks to a single root system for almost 80,000 years. So, this Peacock nail is 3,359 times smaller than Pando in terms of area
On the plant side, the Posidonia australisan aquatic species present in Shark Bay in Australia, holds the record for the largest plant in the world. It covers 200 km², the equivalent of 200,000 football fields. and is therefore 238,095 times larger than Peacock nail.
The fact remains that this coral constitutes a discovery of capital importance for the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele. The economy of the archipelago is closely linked to the good health of coral ecosystems. Indeed, the latter serve as shelters and nurseries for many species of fish and thus constitute a fundamental food resource for local populations. Fishing, whether artisanal or commercial, is a pillar of the Solomon Islands economy, and the state of the reefs directly affects fish yields.
Seeing these reefs disappear would be catastrophicbecause, in addition to ensuring the food subsistence of inhabitants, they also protect coastal areas from waves during storms and regulate the climate, oxygen production and carbon storage. Peacock nail does not escape this rule, and by its constitution, its genetic heritage could contain valuable information on the mechanisms of adaptation of corals to environmental changes. After all, it has survived centuries of human history without disappearing, its DNA must contain some surprises that could help us to better understand its extraordinary resilience.
- Scientists have discovered a giant coral Peacock nail of 34 × 32 meters to the Solomon Islands, unique in its size and biological structure.
- This “underwater cathedral” has grown over several centuries, demonstrating exceptional resilience in the face of climatic upheavals.
- Its preservation is essential for the local ecosystem and could reveal valuable secrets about coral adaptation to climate change.
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