Descending into the perpetual twilight of the Pacific Ocean, researchers exploring the seamounts off the coast of Costa Rica encountered a scene that felt more like a myth than marine biology. At depths ranging between 360 and 529 meters, the lights of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian revealed rocky outcrops entirely carpeted in shimmering brittle stars. Rising from this silver-colored seafloor were massive, bright yellow coral structures that resembled ancient, gilded trees. These organisms, appearing as glowing fans in the dark water, have recently been confirmed not just as a new species, but as the foundation of an entirely new biological family on the tree of life.
The newly discovered coral colonies can grow over one meter tall and 1.2 meters wide, thriving at depths where oxygen levels are extremely low.
The discovery was the result of two separate expeditions in 2019 and 2023 conducted by the Schmidt Ocean Institute aboard the research vessels Falkor and Falkor (too). Lead researcher Dr. Odalisca Breedy from the Universidad de Costa Rica was struck by the visual majesty of the site, noting that the landscape of golden branches and starlike invertebrates was unlike anything she had seen. This aesthetic led the team to name the coral Laurinque elenya. Drawing from Quenya, a language created by author J.R.R. Tolkien, 'Laurinque' translates to 'golden tree,' while 'elenya' means 'of the stars,' referencing the field of brittle stars where the specimens were first located.
The physical structure of Laurinque elenya is as complex as its name implies. These corals feature a dark brown internal axis made of a protein-rich material, covered by a thin layer of tissue that houses rows of tubular polyps. When these polyps extend, the entire colony takes on a soft, fuzzy appearance. The branches are dense and irregular, often growing sideways or fusing together to form sturdy, fan-like shapes that provide critical structure to the seafloor habitat.
A Genetic Riddle Solved
Classifying the new coral proved to be a significant challenge for the scientific team. Initial attempts to place the species within the existing taxonomic framework using three standard genetic markers resulted in conflicting data. One gene suggested a relationship with one family, while the other two pointed toward entirely different groups. This level of uncertainty indicated that the coral was an evolutionary outlier. To find a definitive answer, genetic specialists including Cathy McFadden and Andrea Quattrini utilized phylogenomics, a method that involves analyzing hundreds of genes simultaneously to map evolutionary history.
The results of this large-scale genetic analysis confirmed that the coral represents a distinct evolutionary lineage. While it is most closely related to the Eunicellidae family, the differences in its anatomy and genetic code were so substantial that the researchers established the new family Laurinqueidae to accommodate it. Creating a new biological family is a rare event in modern marine science, signaling a deep and ancient branch on the tree of life that had remained hidden from human observation until these recent deep-sea surveys.
While the discovery of Laurinque elenya is a major scientific milestone, it also highlights the vulnerability of deep-sea environments. Seamounts are known to be hotspots of biodiversity, yet they remain largely unexplored and poorly understood. These ecosystems provide shelter and hunting grounds for a wide variety of marine life, but their slow-growing nature makes them particularly susceptible to industrial disturbances or changes in ocean chemistry. Although the specific impacts of deep-sea pollution on this new family are not yet established, the presence of these 'golden tree' gardens underscores the need for continued exploration and protection of Costa Rica’s offshore territories. As scientists continue to process the data from these expeditions, they are reminded that even in the darkest reaches of the ocean, complex and ancient forms of life are still waiting to be named.
Read the full original reporting at environment coastal & offshore →
Image: Richard Ling <wikipedia@rling.com> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Image: A bright yellow tree-like coral colony on a dark seafloor