Hong Kong marine scientists discover 2 new coral species in city’s southeastern waters

Researchers from Baptist University have discovered two new coral species in Hong Kong’s southeastern waters, underscoring the area’s biodiversity despite being close to urban territory.

The university revealed on Monday that a team of its marine scientists had identified two new soft coral species – previously unknown worldwide – in rocky reefs off Sung Kong Island, located about 5km (3 miles) southeast of Hong Kong Island’s Shek O Beach.

One of them, Paraminabea inflata, a yellow or orange coral, was the third of its kind found in Hong Kong, with the species also discovered near Zhuhai’s Heizhou Island, about 17km south of Lantau Island.

“This underscores the high level of diversity of corals in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area,” Professor Qiu Jianwen of the university’s department of biology, who led the team, told the Post.

“There are only 11 species under the Paraminabea genus in the world and we already have three in Hong Kong.”

The other species, Parasphaerasclera dimorpha, displaying a bright orange-red hue, has been found only in Hong Kong and is the first of its kind reported off the coast of China.