A black coral growing on a vertical wall

A black coral growing on a vertical wall. Black corals are named for the color of their skeleton, while their tissues take on vibrant hues ranging from red to yellow or white. One family of black corals, Leiopathes, has been found to survive over 4,000 years, making them among the longest-lived organisms on the planet.

Photo Location: Virginia, Norfolk Canyon
Photo Date: 2013 May 16