RiMajolOnline Represents the People of the Marshall Islands :: View topic - World's 'rarest' coral found by JCU scientist

A JAMES Cook University scientist has discovered what could be the world's rarest coral: 5m across and nearly 2m high with branches like elk’s antlers.

The unique Pacific elkhorn coral was found during an underwater survey of the Arno atoll in the Marshall Islands, in the northern Pacific Ocean.

The coral bears a close physical resemblance to the critically endangered elkhorn coral of the Atlantic Ocean.

Coral scientist Dr Zoe Richards, from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at JCU, said she was stunned when she first saw the coral.

“The huge colonies – 5m across and nearly 2m high with branches like elk’s antlers – were like nothing I’d seen before in the Pacific Ocean,’’ Dr Richards said.

A genetic analysis of the coral has shown it to be a different species to the Atlantic elkhorn, however this is subject to scientific debate.

More than 100 years ago, a similar coral was found near Fiji, however there are not samples from that coral to compare to the new find.

World's rarest coral? The Pacific elkhorn coral in-situ at Arno Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Photo courtesy of Dean Jacobson

Daniel Bateman
CAIRNS

Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:36 pm Post subject:

is these healthy coral or not? i don't see any fish around these coral in this picture you took. must be something wrong, is it?
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MK

Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:21 am Post subject:

is this in MH??
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Free counters!

Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 5:05 am Post subject:

Mark huh something?

It says ARNO? the heck is MH anyway? Man, jej jako im lok itok enwot jejkab et eo widieakeak k? ekwe ekojkan ad lemnak k generation in koman oktak ko kein?
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Lewaj kein jinibin ak maat in ko BUuUM!!!!!!!!

Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 11:22 pm Post subject:

Come on Arumbwil, are you kidding me? MH is the appreviation for Marshall Islands. It was suppose to be MI but michigan already has it. Goodness sakes. Maybe you really are getting udiakiak lok. Laughing

Here go learn your state appreviation:
http://www.acronymfinder.com/stateabbreviations.asp

Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:09 pm Post subject:

Im ta point ne am? "Marshall HIGHLAND"? Ijela wot kin Lolelaplap im MI wottommwoj indreo im indreo!
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Lewaj kein jinibin ak maat in ko BUuUM!!!!!!!!

Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:45 pm Post subject:

My point is, you say all this about being rimajol but then again you don't even know your own countries appreviation. It's not new, the appreviation didn't just get discovered last month for you to not know about. It's been like that for over a decade already. THAT IS MY POINT. Don't claim that you know so much about our islands, I knew about this appreviation when I was in school back home so it's been around for a while now. MI is michigan. Get over it arumbwil, Jab jejlok im kenono in bar ajiri ijone.

Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 1:12 am Post subject:

yes this is MH aka Marshall Islands. Is Arno the only place in Majol with this speciese?
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Ij Iakwelok Aelon eo Ao

Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject:

ennej, I believe there has to be more of these corals around the marshall islands.

Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:33 am Post subject:

aet ij bar tomak scandy k ebar wor aillin ilo majol ejelokin arno elon kain wor in ie.

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:38 am Post subject:

ejimwe ij mool ke ikar elolo wod rot in ilo Namdik im Kwajalein kab Jaluit...
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Ij Iakwelok Aelon eo Ao