Mysterious 'Golden Tree' Coral Is So Weird, Scientists Had to Create a New Family on The Tree of Life
Scientists have discovered a unique species of octocoral off the coast of Costa Rica, which they have named 'Laurinque elenya' or 'golden tree of the stars'. The coral is so distinct that researchers had to establish a new family on the tree of life to classify it.
Why it matters
This discovery expands our understanding of deep-sea biodiversity and highlights the importance of exploring remote marine ecosystems.
In the twilight deeps of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, a magical sight can be found on a seamount off the coast of Costa Rica.
As the underwater vehicle SuBastian glides over a rocky outcrop oddly coated with a fuzzy pink patina and punctuated with basket-shaped gleaming white sponges, a majestic yellow form emerges from the darkness.
It looks like a golden tree, so vividly yellow you can imagine it glowing.
Then, as the camera zooms closer, you can see the pink fuzz moving – a thick carpet of stars from which the golden tree blooms.
The stars, of course, are not real stars, but a teeming multitude of pink brittle stars; nor is the golden tree a real tree.
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