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Blue Coral (Distichopora robusta) growing on submarine rock outcrops at approx 15-20 M depth off the SW corner of Jicarita Island.
This unique coral species was first discovered here at this location, and is only known from small areas of Coiba National Park and some nearby sites in the Gulf of Chiriqui. First scientifically described in 2004. Diver Kevan Mantell, who was the person who first brought the unique corals to scientific attention, swims through the landscape of underwater pinnacles.
Sponges and sea fans grow among the Distichopora corals.
Jicarita Island,
Coiba National Park, Panama
Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean
"Coral Wall" dive site
original description of the coral:
Lindner, A., Cairns S.D., Guzman .M., 2004. Distichopora robusta sp. nov., the first shallow-water stylasterid (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Stylasteridae) from the tropical eastern Pacific. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 84 5: 943-947.
Jicarita Island,
Coiba National Park, Panama
Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean
"Coral Wall" dive site
original description of the coral:
Lindner, A., Cairns S.D., Guzman .M., 2004. Distichopora robusta sp. nov., the first shallow-water stylasterid (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Stylasteridae) from the tropical eastern Pacific. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 84 5: 943-947.
- Copyright
- copyright Tim Laman
- Image Size
- 3000x2000 / 7.3MB
- Keywords
- Contained in galleries
- Coiba National Park