Black Coral

Photo: Tony Gilbert · CC BY-NC

Black coral colonies adorn the canyon walls at depths below 25 metres in formations that can reach 2 metres in height, representing decades of slow growth in the cold upwelling water that characterises Gran Canaria's southern coast. Despite their name, living black corals are brightly coloured — ranging from white to yellow to red — with the characteristic black skeleton only revealed when the polyp tissue is removed. They provide critical structural habitat for a range of invertebrates and small fish, and their age and slow growth rate make them highly vulnerable to anchor damage and collection.