A rare and solitary coral species thought to be lost for a generation has been found alive and clinging on to the underwater cliffs of four sites across the Galapagos, offering scientists and environmental conservationists a rare glimmer of resilience within a warming ocean.

Listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (possibly extinct) after its last official record in 2000, the species – Rhizopsammia weelingtoni – has now been documented across the islands of Isabela and Fernandina.

The discovery was made by a scientific team from the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Californian Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park Directorate, during a series of targeted dives back in January 2024.

Researchers encountered more than 100 colonies on a ledge south of Isabela Islands’ Tagus Cove at around 12 metres deep, followed by additional colonies at Punta Vicente Roca, Playa Tortuga Negra, and – most astonishing – Cabo Douglas on Fernandina where the coral had never been reported before.

Altogether, surveys logged over 250 living colonies, revealing two colour morphs – black-purple and red-black corallites – that match museum specimens collected in the 1970s.

Dr Inti Keith, principal investigator for Charles Darwin Foundation’s marine and lead author of the study, said: “Finding R. wellingtoni after 24 years raises important questions about how the coral survived past environmental pressures, such as severe 1982-1983 El Niño, suggesting it might have found refuge in deeper, cooler habitats before re-emerging during recent cooler La Niña conditions.

“It also proves that even the most vulnerable species can persist if we protect the right habitats – yet its tiny, scattered colonies remind us just how close we came to losing it forever and the critical need for proactive management strategies.”

Also known as Wellington’s Solitary Coral after Ferard M. Wellington who first collected specimens, the species is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. It typically inhabits relatively cool waters around Galapagos, with average annual temperatures between 15-26°C, benefitting from cooler upwelling conditions that provide thermal refuges.

Corallites range from approximately 3 to 6mm in diameter, making individual colonies quite small (generally less than 1cm wide) and easily overlooked.

“Finding something that was previously thought to be extinct is one of the most exciting discoveries a biologist can make,” said Terry Gosliner, PhD, Academy Curator of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology and study co-author.

“In just one dive, we found more than 100 colonies of R. wellingtoni on a healthy, biologically diverse coral reef, many of which were dotted with budding polyps, signalling active reproduction.

“This is huge: evidence that the species isn’t merely clinging to survival, but thriving at multiple localities and depths. This discovery is a hopeful example of resilience amid rising ocean temperatures, and a poignant reminder of what can be gained from continued conservation and coral reef monitoring in biodiversity hotspots like the Galapagos.”