New coral species named after Chewbacca

Although this does not help to pilot the Millennium Falcon, marine biologists have discovered a new type of coral in the high seas in the Western Pacific Ocean which presents a striking similarity with a certain beloved Star Wars character. A new scientific analysis of the species initially documented almost two decades indicates that Iridogorgia chewbacca is its own species, with long hair branches which are up to its homonymous Wookie.
I. Chewbacca was recorded for the first time on video during an expedition to the 2006 ocean near the Hawaiian island of Moloka’i. Ten years later, another example was documented near the Mariana trench. But it would take a few more years before the environmentalist of the University of Hawaii, the Watling, not noticed the strange ethereal view while examining the search for some of his colleagues. The recent article by his team published in the newspaper Zootaxa mark the first description of I. ChewbaccaThe physical and genetic characteristics of the same new kind of coral, Iridogorgia curve.
“Seeing this coral for the first time was unforgettable,” said Watling in a declaration that accompanies him. “Its branches and long flexible shape immediately reminded me of Chewbacca. Even after years of work on the high seas, discoveries like this still make me stop and take note of it. ”
Like all corals, this example inspired by Wookie is not a creature. Instead, I. Chewbacca is made from a colony of thousands of polyps which form the wider structure in collaboration. The Wookie type specimen seen near Moloka’i measured about four feet high. His parent uncovered near the Mariana trench was about 20 inches high. However, in both cases, their wavy branches were able to grow up to 15 inches long. Unlike other species of coral, I. Chewbacca is not in the middle of the extended reefs. Instead, they seem to live alone through the rocky background.
The coral of the world, I. Chewbacca Included, are currently threatened by the continuous effects of the climate crisis on the temperature of the ocean, acidity and pollution. But unlike the best friend of Han Solo, they are not able to defend themselves against the threat and need global conservation efforts to ensure their future survival. Recent breakthroughs are, however, promising, including probiotic treatments and even appropriately Star Wars– Cryogenic preservation techniques.