Overview
- The research team confirmed the living reef on Monday after inspecting sonar targets with underwater drones and the National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab’s Deep Sea Camera System.
- Visual transects showed a patchy mesophotic coral ecosystem more than 50 meters deep with multiple coral morphologies and eight observed fish species sheltering and feeding among the corals.
- The search began with an 11.5‑kilometre sonar survey that produced two distinct acoustic signals, which the team then investigated with remotely operated cameras to obtain direct footage of the seafloor.
- Researchers have not yet collected physical samples, so species identifications and whether the reef was alive in the 1960s remain unconfirmed, leading the authors to call for scientific diving, genetic sampling, and expanded mapping.
- The find, led by Benin scientists, highlights how little is known about deep coastal habitats on the Gulf of Guinea shelf and could prompt new surveys, funding requests, and local conservation planning if further reefs are verified.