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[1] Researchers from Baptist University have identified two new coral species in the southeastern waters of Hong Kong, highlighting the region’s biodiversity despite its proximity to urban areas. The university revealed that its team of marine scientists had identified two new soft coral species – previously unknown worldwide – in rocky reefs off Sung Kong Island, located about 5km (3 miles) southeast of Hong Kong Island’s Shek O Beach.
[2] One of them, Paraminabea inflata, a yellow or orange coral, was the third of its kind found in Hong Kong. The species was also discovered near Zhuhai’s Heizhou Island, about 17km south of Lantau Island. “This underscores the high level of diversity of corals in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area,” said Professor Qiu Jianwen of the university’s department of biology, who led the team. “There are only 11 species under the Paraminabea genus in the world and we already have three in Hong Kong.” The other species, Parasphaerasclera dimorpha, displaying a bright orange-red hue, has been found only in Hong Kong and is the first of its kind reported off the coast of China.
[3] According to Qiu, both species were found in deeper waters of around 15 to 20 metres (49 to 66 feet). Their remote location partly explained why they had not been detected on previous coral surveys. Qiu’s team has been conducting studies at both locations since 2023. Their research findings were published in the October 2025 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Ecology and Evolution. Researchers delineated the new species using the “integrative taxonomy” method, which combines judgments based on appearance and genetic analysis.
[4] The study also provided more genomic resources to advance the taxonomy of soft corals, which was challenging because of their resemblance to each other and a lack of genetic data, Qiu said. Corals are generally divided into hard and soft ones, with the former receiving more attention as they build reefs and are highly sensitive to environmental threats, according to a Baptist University statement.
[5] By contrast, soft corals, including the two species newly identified in Hong Kong, do not build reefs and are often found in habitats unsuitable for hard corals. However, Qiu said soft corals perform unique and important ecological functions, including maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems by feeding on plankton and providing food for other organisms.
[6] Hong Kong has recorded 90 species of hard corals, while only 29 soft ones have been found in previous surveys. The latest discovery has raised the number of soft corals found to 31. “We now know that the diversity of [soft corals] has been underestimated,” Qiu said, adding that his team had previously also found four new hard coral species in the southeastern waters of Hong Kong. “There are many new species in this area to be discovered, and it could be a hotspot of biodiversity research,” he said. “If we are to set up new marine conservation areas in the future, [the southeastern waters] could be considered.”
Source: South China Morning Post, January 5
