A new coral reef found in deep water off the cost off Naples will help scientists the better understand the ecological impacts of deep water coral habitats.
A remotely operated submarine explored the Dohrn Canyon, a deep marine valley situated just off the southern Italian city's coastline, leading to the discovery.
According to the Italian Research Foundation, "Explorations (...) revealed the presence of massive structures over 2 metres wide, distributed along a vertical wall more than 80 meters high".
These impressive formations are composed of deep-water hard corals, commonly referred to as "white corals" because of their lack of color, specifically identified as Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata species.
The reef also contains black corals, solitary corals, sponges, and other ecologically important species, as well as fossil traces of oysters and ancient corals, the CNR said.
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