It started as just another summer's day of analysing coral health in a Hong Kong Baptist University laboratory. Then, suddenly, Qiu Jianwen and his colleague Sam Yiu King-fung spotted something they had never seen before: the coral being eaten by some of the coral-eating nudibranchs they were studying was bright orange and violet. They had inadvertently discovered what would turn out to be three new species.
Hong Kong isn't known for colourful corals; these are more commonly found in diving paradises like Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines or Australia's Great Barrier Reef, where the warmer tropical waters and gentler underwater terrain enable the growth of vast, brightly coloured communities. Here in Hong Kong, where nearly 90 species have been identified, most hard coral is pale, greyish and monochrome, as the relatively colder subtropical water temperature in winter constrains coral growth.
At the sight of this anomaly, Qiu, who is the associate head of the department of biology, and Yiu, a researcher working with Qiu at the time, returned to the site where they collected the nudibranch specimens to conduct an in-depth underwater search. As they dived to ten metres below sea level, radiantly coloured corals-with polyps and branches spreading out like sparks from a firecracker-loomed in the shadows.
After cross-checking local catalogues and public DNA sequence databases, the team confirmed that what they were seeing were three undocumented species belonging to the sun coral or Tubastraea genus. Its common name is derived from the polyps' golden yellow colour as seen in known sun coral species in the South Pacific. Qiu and Yiu named their species Tubastraea dendroida, Tubastraea violacea and Tubastraea chloromura.
This story is from the November 2022 edition of Tatler Hong Kong.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2022 edition of Tatler Hong Kong.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE LAST WORD
Every issue, we ask our cover star a round of quickfire questions that give us a little more insight into their personalities. This month: Takashi Murakami
GOING WITH THE FLOW
How does one approach the ancient philosophy of feng shui in a modern way? Three leading Hong Kong-based designers share their thoughts on this revered art of placement and how to introduce its principles into our spaces
SCENE MAKER
Italian architect Antonio Citterio reflects on his enduring collaboration with Maxalto and how far the furniture brand has come since its early beginnings
MODERN FAMILY
Kourtney Kardashian's California sanctuary by famed designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, is where elegance meets comfort
A TO Z COSMETIC TREATMENTS
From Botox to glass skin facials, here are the most talked-about cosmetic treatments to know
CHANGING THE GAME
Our world is ever-changing, and so is the way we experience it. Tatler explores how the travel industry is adapting to the needs and values of a new generation
ACTS OF SERVICE
Go on, then. Ask Vea and Wing's chef-owner Vicky Cheng what his love language is
THE BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT
More women are taking back their birthing experience and their power by challenging the institutionalised norms surrounding childbirth, honouring the healing process and leaning on the magic of sisterhood
THE RIGHT INGRDIENTS
Oscar nominee Tran Anh Hung, who won Best Director at Cannes last year, evolves the language of cinema to present the simple beauty of Vietnam
THIRST TRAP
Marilyn Minter takes an exclusive self-portrait for Tatler and reminds the world why raw, honest, non-conforming beauty is the most compelling kind