Media release

From: Queensland Museum

An international team of scientists working with Queensland Museum’s CoralBank have made groundbreaking findings that rewrite the family tree of one of the world’s most iconic coral groups and described five new-to-science species.

The research has reshaped the understanding of one of the reef’s most ecologically significant corals and raised questions for conservation. What was once considered a single widespread coral species, Acropora hyacinthus, commonly known as a Table Coral, has now been revealed to be many.

Using advanced genomic techniques alongside traditional taxonomic methods, researchers have found that the lineage containing what was previously thought to be just three species of table coral is a complex group of at least 16 distinct species, five of which were previously unknown to science.

Some of these newly described species are only found on Australian reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef and as far south as Lord Howe Island in New South Wales.

Lead author Dr Sage Rassmussen from the University of Technology Sydney said the results were a surprise, showing there is much to learn about the reefs on our doorstep.

“Table corals are some of the most familiar and beautiful corals on the reef, so we assumed they were well understood,” Dr Rassmussen said.

“But our research reveals the opposite - what was once considered a single, widespread species is actually a whole group of species with much smaller geographical ranges. This reshapes how we view the reef’s biodiversity and the roles these corals play.

“It’s like realising the ‘one’ tree you’ve always seen in the rainforest is a dozen distinct species hiding in plain sight.”

The findings, published in Invertebrate Systematics, are a wake-up call for reef management and restoration. Species with small ranges are more vulnerable to extinction, especially as coral bleaching and climate effects intensify across the Indo-Pacific.

Among the five newly described species is Acropora harriottae sp. nov., named after the pioneering Australian Coral Reef Ecologist, Dr Vicki Harriott. Another, Acropora nyinggulu sp. nov., is a common species on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef.

Its name was chosen with the region’s Traditional Owners, the Baiyungu and Yinnigurrura people, as Nyinggulu is the traditional name for the area.

Queensland Museum Principal Scientist of Marine Biodiversity Dr Peter Cowman, also an Associate Professor at James Cook University, said the study sets a new global benchmark for how scientists identify coral species.

“We combined the latest genome-scale DNA analysis and machine learning with a fresh look at century-old museum specimens to uncover evolutionary details we’ve never seen before,” Dr Cowman said.

“It’s like reading the coral’s genetic history book. This allows us to identify new species with much more confidence, and it reveals a hidden world of coral diversity that’s been right in front of us all along.”

This groundbreaking research was only possible by comparing the DNA of newly collected corals with historical specimens held in Queensland Museum’s State Collection and collections from museums across the world.

Dr Tom Bridge, Queensland Museum Senior Curator of Corals, and Associate Professor at James Cook University, said data from more than 5,000 coral colonies collected and sequenced as part of Queensland Museum’s CoralBank Project played a key role.

“Museum collections are like a library of biodiversity, holding specimens that are a snapshot in time,” Dr Bridge said.

“For this study, we were able to compare our new samples to the original ‘type’ specimens collected over 100 years ago.

“Without that physical reference from the collection, we would have the genetic information, but no way to assign it to the correct species. It proves that museum collections are an irreplaceable resource for understanding and protecting our natural world.”

The study also reinstates nine previously discarded species names that had been lumped under A. hyacinthus, a process in taxonomy known as ‘species resurrection’. This highlights how the field of taxonomy is dynamic and ever-changing, with new evidence and technologies constantly refining our understanding of the diversity of life on our planet.

James Cook University Professor of Marine Ecology Andrew Baird said the study is a wake-up call for reef conservation and that these findings could change how we protect coral reefs.

“If we think a coral species is common and found everywhere, we might not worry too much about it,” Professor Baird said.

“But if that ‘one species’ turns out to be ten different ones, each living in a smaller area with lower numbers, they could be at much greater risk of disappearing.

“We need to urgently rethink how we assess and protect coral species - because you can’t save something if you don’t even know it’s there.”

Professor Baird also cautioned on the implications for reef restoration.

“This is also important for assessing proposals to move coral species to other areas to assist recovery. It may seem like a good idea, but we may be inadvertently moving species into places they don’t naturally occur.

“As someone living in Queensland, cane toads are a constant reminder that even well-intentioned biological interventions can have serious and long-term effects.

“This research highlights the critical need for investment in taxonomy to aid ineffective reef conservation and management.”

Queensland Museum CEO Dr Jim Thompson highlighted the crucial role of museum collections in understanding biodiversity.

“Many of the specimens analysed were housed in museum archives, some collected decades ago,” Dr Thompson said.

“This research shows how historical specimens, combined with modern science, can uncover new species and reveal the fragility of marine ecosystems, emphasising the need for ongoing conservation efforts.”

The international team, which includes scientists from leading institutions across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, including Queensland Museum, James Cook University, the University of Technology Sydney, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the Smithsonian Institution, the University of the Ryukyus, the University of the Philippines, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universitas Syiah Kuala, the National University of Singapore, Coral Coast Conservation Center, Kōrero O Te `Ōrau, and the Ministry of Fisheries, Tonga., used cutting-edge genomic sequencing to analyse over 130 coral specimens across 22 Indo-Pacific regions.

The paper, “The tables have turned: taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography of the Acropora hyacinthus (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) complex,” was recently published in Invertebrate Systematics.

Fast Facts:

• Five new-to-science coral species described from across the Indo-Pacific, including four from Australian waters.
• The new species are: Acropora tersa, Acropora harriottae, Acropora uogi, Acropora nyinggulu, and Acropora kalindae.
• Nine species previously thought to be duplicates of others have been re-evaluated. Four are confirmed as distinct species, while five require further study.
• Acropora hyacinthus was thought to have one of the broadest ranges of any coral - now revealed to be multiple distinct species.
• Advanced genetic methods helped separate species that look very similar.
• Study highlights the need for precision in reef restoration and conservation.
• Researchers visited over 20 museums across the world, referencing specimens collected over a century ago
• The CoralBank project aims to create a curated genomic and taxonomic repository of Australia’s threatened coral reefs, informing conservation efforts for the Great Barrier Reef.