Charles Darwin Foundation 100d ago

Among the oldest specimens in our collections are five small corals from the genus Crypthelia: C. eueides, C. glebulenta, C. lacunosa, C. cymas, and C. dactylopoma. They were collected in 1888, between Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal Islands, during the expedition of the research vessel Albatross, the first ship designed specifically for marine scientific research. Species of Crypthelia inhabit deep, cold waters, often beyond the reach of sunlight. Their calcium carbonate structures can host other organisms, such as polychaetes and small crustaceans, creating small microhabitats in the deep ocean. 📷: Alma Suarez # hydracoral #MarineCollections #OceanHistory #Galapagos #ConservationScience #ProtectBiodiversity #NatureShorts #Conservation #CharlesDarwin #CharlesDarwinFoundation #FundacionCharlesDarwin #CDF #FCD