New Deep-Sea Coral Family Named After Tolkien’s Golden Tree
A bright yellow branching coral found on Pacific seamounts off Costa Rica was distinct enough to require a new family. Specimens collected by remotely operated vehicles between 360 and 529 meters were analyzed genetically and physically. Its name, Laurinque elenya, draws on Quenya words for golden tree and stars, reflecting the brittle stars covering nearby seafloor.
The coral was found on seamounts near Isla del Coco and along Costa Rica's Pacific margin, at depths of 360 to 529 meters. Specimens were gathered by the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian in 2019 and 2023, during expeditions aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute vessels Falkor and Falkor (too). Colonies can exceed a meter in height.
Initial sequencing of three standard coral genes gave conflicting signals, each pointing to a different family. Comparing hundreds of genes through phylogenomics resolved the placement, showing the species sits closest to Eunicellidae but warrants its own family, Laurinqueidae.
The discovery may broaden public interest in deep-sea biodiversity, particularly among taxonomy and conservation communities. Because the coral lives on seamounts that remain poorly surveyed, such findings could inform discussions about how these habitats are studied and monitored. Museums, genetic databases, and field guides may need updating to accommodate the new family. For audiences familiar with Tolkien, the naming could make an obscure invertebrate more memorable, potentially aiding science communication and fundraising for ocean research.