Five new coral species found as scientists ‘rewrite the family tree’, Oceanographic, August 2025
Cutting-edge genomic techniques alongside traditional taxonomy reveal that what was once thought to be just three species of table coral is a complex group of at least 16 distinct species, five of which were previously unknown to science.
An international team of scientists may have just rewritten the family tree on one of the world’s most iconic coral groups with the discovery and description of no fewer than five new-to-science species.
The research – a collaborative effort between Queensland Museum’s CoralBank and institutions including the University of Technology Sydney and James Cook University – has reshaped the understanding of one of the Great Barrier reef’s most ecologically significant corals and raised new questions for conservation.
Read more: Coral research uncovers exciting new-to-science species hidden in plain sight