Cnidarian · octocoral

Bubblegum coral

Paragorgia arborea

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic Found in all 5 oceans

Depth

Mostly between 200 and 1,300 m, observed down to about 3,200 m

Size

Up to about 6 m tall

Diet

Plankton and particles captured by its polyps

Zone

The sea floor · 200 – 3,500 m

Key facts

• Its branches end in knobs, like bubblegum bubbles. It can be white, red or salmon-colored.
• It grows on seamounts and rocky outcrops, and lives for decades, even centuries.
• Born in the North Pacific more than 10 million years ago, it then spread to almost all cold oceans.
• When disturbed, it gives off a blue light.

Verified sources

1. University of Washington, Interactive Oceans : Bubblegum coral
2. Live Science : How a bubblegum coral conquered the globe (Herrera et al. 2012, Molecular Ecology)
3. NOAA Ocean Explorer : bubblegum coral à 3 191 m
4. MBARI : Glowing corals
5. SeaLifeBase : Paragorgia arborea

In the game: To observe

In the same zone

Carnivorous umbrella spongeCladorhiza kensmithi Scarlet king crabLithodes couesi Atlantic batfishDibranchus atlanticus Bone-eating zombie wormOsedax rubiplumus Carcass bacterial matsBeggiatoa spp. GrenadierFamily Macrouridae