Abrolhos Bank: Brazilian reef largest in South Atlantic Ocean

The largest and most diverse reef system in the South Atlantic Ocean, the Abrolhos Bank, is twice as large as thought and teeming with life, scientists now say.

“We had some clues from local fishermen that other reefs existed, but not at the scale of what we discovered,” said Rodrigo de Moura, Conservation International Brazil marine specialist and co-author of a study about the discovery. “It is very exciting and highly unusual to discover a reef structure this large and harboring such an abundance of fish.”

Home to a variety of marine species such as soft corals and mollusks found only in Brazil, the Abrolhos Bank is recognized as one of the planet’s most valuable coral reefs. And the most prevalent coral in this reef, the Mussismilia coral genus, represents the only remaining plants from a coral fauna with origins in the Tertiary period, which ranges from about 2 million to 65 million years ago.

Other creatures found at the reef include the dog snapper, black grouper, and adult and juvenile masked boobies.

From LiveScience.com: Read more