2008 PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AP provides access to this publicly distributed HANDOUT photo to be used only to illustrate news reporting or commentary on the facts or events depicted in this image.
A 2008 photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows a sample of black coral (class Anthoza, order Antipatharia) collected from the Gulf of Mexico at a depth of 300 meters, with a 15-cm ruler at base for scale. For the first time, scientists have been able to validate the age of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico.? They found the Gulf is home to 2,000 year-old deep-sea black corals, many of which are only a few feet tall.? These slow-growing, long-living animals thrive in very deep waters?300 meters (984 feet) and deeper?yet scientists say they are sensitive to what is happening in the surface ocean as well as on the sea floor.?(AP Photo/U.S. Geological Survey, Ken Sulak)