Giant 'Potato Patch' Coral Colony Documented near Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep

Key facts

• Researchers have documented a giant coral colony of the species Pavona clavus, known locally as the "Potato Patch", on the southeastern side of Kadmat Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
• The colony covers an estimated area of 4,250 square metres (approximately 1.05 acres or 0.43 hectares), making it potentially the largest known living colony of Pavona clavus in the world.
• Preliminary growth-rate estimates suggest the colony may be between 700 and 1,800 years old, with 58.47% of the coral tissue found to be alive.
• The formation extends 85 metres in length, 50 metres in width, and 2.8 metres in height, ranging from a depth of 5.2 metres to 20 metres.
• The survey was conducted by the Research and Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and The Habitats Trust, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Environment & Forest, Union Territory of Lakshadweep.