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Desmophyllum dianthus coral resembles the underside of a mushroom and is mostly found on seamounts.
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Huge soaring mountains known as seamounts dominate this underwater landscape. It is estimated that tens of thousands of seamounts exist across the world's oceans, however, less than 200 of these seamounts have been scientifically examined.
Of the ones that have been studied, scientists have found many new and endemic (unique to that area) species.
On some seamounts corals are thousands of years old, several storeys high and have trunks as thick as lamp posts. These slow growing corals are the ancient forests of the deep and have been home to many unknown creatures for millions of years.
These deep water worlds are the last undiscovered wilderness areas on the planet.
Unfortunately, this wilderness is being wiped out by the most destructive fishing practise - bottom trawling.
All evidence indicates that deep water life forms are very slow to recover from bottom trawling, taking decades to hundreds of years, if they recover at all.
Scientists fear that bottom trawling is significantly altering fragile deep sea ecosystems, potentially with severe and unpredictable consequences.
They are worried that humans are wiping out unknown worlds before they can be studied.
Of the ones that have been studied, scientists have found many new and endemic (unique to that area) species.
On some seamounts corals are thousands of years old, several storeys high and have trunks as thick as lamp posts. These slow growing corals are the ancient forests of the deep and have been home to many unknown creatures for millions of years.
These deep water worlds are the last undiscovered wilderness areas on the planet.
Unfortunately, this wilderness is being wiped out by the most destructive fishing practise - bottom trawling.
All evidence indicates that deep water life forms are very slow to recover from bottom trawling, taking decades to hundreds of years, if they recover at all.
Scientists fear that bottom trawling is significantly altering fragile deep sea ecosystems, potentially with severe and unpredictable consequences.
They are worried that humans are wiping out unknown worlds before they can be studied.
