There are several species of bubblegum coral, but researchers
have found on in particular, Paragorgia arborea, is quite
cosmopolitan, with a single species of the knobby-armed
structures migrating nearly everywhere outside of the tropics.
The genetic study detailed Oct. 23, 2012, in the journal
Molecular Ecology suggests the coral's ancient migration started
in the North Pacific more than 10 million years ago, from which
the colony-building animals may have hitched a ride on ancient
ocean currents to travel to new seafloor habitat. (This image
was taken on May 21, 2002 along California's Davidson Seamount.)
This bubblegum coral species forms colonies on the ocean floor
to depths as great as 4,921 feet (1,500 meters). The structures
appear in hues from bright red, orangish pink and pale pink to
white in photographs taken using artificial light. (This image
was taken on May 21, 2002 on Davidson Seamount.) On the
seafloor, the coral's branches create habitat for other
creatures, much like trees in a rain forest