Citizen scientists discover a Great Barrier Reef coral giant ‘like a rolling meadow’

Citizen scientists have identified what is believed to be the largest documented coral colony on the Great Barrier Reef, found during the Great Reef Census. Photograph: Richard Fitzpatrick/Biopixel

Citizen scientists have discovered what they believe is one of the largest coral colonies ever documented on the Great Barrier Reef.

The coral spans approximately 111 metres in maximum length and covers an estimated area of 3,973 sq m – about half the size of a soccer field.