Two New Coral Species Discovered Near Hong Kong, Highlighting Hidden Marine Biodiversity

• Scientists discovered two previously unknown soft coral species in Hong Kong's southeastern waters, near Sung Kong Island.
• One species, Paraminabea inflata, is yellow/orange and is the third of its genus found in Hong Kong, out of only 11 globally.
• The second species, Parasphaerasclera dimorpha, is bright orange/red and has only been found in Hong Kong's marine waters.
• Both species were found at depths of 15-20 meters, suggesting they were overlooked in previous surveys due to their remote location.
• The discovery emphasizes the significant, often overlooked, role of soft corals in marine ecosystems and the potential for new marine conservation areas in Hong Kong.

Why It Matters: New coral discoveries near Hong Kong reveal rich, hidden marine biodiversity, underscoring the importance of soft corals.