\u201cThis coral was so big, we actually couldn\u2019t easily measure it due to dive safety restrictions,\u201d which limited how far and how long researchers could explore the structure. <\/p>\n
Its <\/a>exceeds the dimensions of a similar formation documented in American Samoa in 2020 by a factor of about 3.4. Such a difference is notable, even within a genus known for producing large reef-building colonies.<\/p>\n Signs of an Ancient Organism Emerging<\/p>\n Estimating the coral\u2019s age is less straightforward. Unlike some species,Porites rus<\/a> does not produce clear growth bands, which are typically used to determine age in coral structures. As Hannah Barkley<\/a> of NOAA\u2019s monitoring program explained:<\/p>\n \u201cIt is difficult to tell the true age of this coral because it doesn\u2019t produce growth bands like other corals,\u201d she said, \u201cWe roughly estimate that\u00a0Porites rus\u00a0grows outward about a centimeter per year, so one could imagine that a colony of that size is pretty old.\u201d<\/p>\n Scientists rely instead on average growth rates of about one centimeter per year. Based on that rate, a colony of this size could be more than 2,050 years old. It suggests the sea structure has survived centuries of change, but also shows the limits of current science, since its age can only be estimated, not precisely measured.<\/p>\n Carbon Dioxide Built This Strange Ecosystem<\/p>\n![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Illustration-of-the-measured-dimensions-of-the-Porites-rus-colony.jpg\")
Illustration of the measured dimensions of the Porites rus colony. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.<\/p>\n![\"Top](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Top-down-view-of-the-coral-wall-left-with-a-researcher-swimming-above-dome-shaped-formations-at-the-.jpeg\")
Top-down view of the coral wall (left), with a researcher swimming above dome-shaped formations at the colony\u2019s summit (right). Credit: NOAA Fisheries.<\/p>\n