Coral Scan Reveals Eggs Inside Living Reefs
Researchers used ultrasound on submerged corals to image developing eggs without cutting the organisms open.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Botany
Coral Spawning International, working with Canon Medical Systems UK and Canon EMEA, conducted what it describes as the first ultrasound scan of living, submerged coral to identify developing eggs. The non-invasive method was applied to six large polyp stony (LPS) coral species using the Aplio i700 ultrasound platform.
Why it matters
Detecting egg development before spawning helps researchers forecast reproductive windows, which supports lab-based propagation, selective breeding and reef restoration. The approach avoids sacrificing corals to check their reproductive state.
The scan used a mix of high and ultra-high frequency probes, with findings verified against macro photography of Trachyphyllia geoffroyi coral. Whether ultrasound readings reliably forecast spawning timing remains unconfirmed until the six-month monitoring period concludes.
The players
Coral Spawning International
A coral research organization that conducted the underwater ultrasound scan and is tracking the scanned colonies to study spawning.
Canon Medical Systems UK
The United Kingdom arm of Canon's medical imaging business, which partnered on the scan using its Aplio i700 ultrasound platform.
The details
Researchers imaged internal egg structures in six LPS coral species underwater using hospital-grade ultrasound equipment. Because the method does not require cutting into living corals, the same organisms can be tracked over time.
Timeline
Scan announcement published November 4, 2026.
Corals are monitored for six months to record gamete release.
The Big Picture
The use of the Aplio i700 hospital ultrasound platform to image coral reproduction extends clinical imaging into marine biology, a crossover that mirrors how medical instruments have been adapted for other living systems. It points toward a broader scientific shift in which non-lethal imaging could replace destructive sampling in reproductive research.
Non-invasive egg detection could make coral propagation and selective breeding for reef restoration more practical and less damaging to existing colonies. Commercialization timelines for underwater ultrasound in reef work have not been established.
The takeaway
Being able to see inside living coral without harming it could change how reef restoration teams choose which colonies to propagate. The six-month monitoring results will show whether imaging can reliably predict spawning.
Further reading
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