This month, our Curator of Collections, Carol Davies, talks about “Brain Coral”.

This specimen of ‘Brain coral’ (Maeandropora sp) was part of the old Kendal Museum collection in the early 1900’s and had been presented by the Hon. Mrs Howard of Levens Hall, from the old museum in Stricklandgate c1913. Its display stand was custom made by Gillows of Lancaster in Mahogany. This specimen is believed to have come originally from the Indian Ocean. Corals grow slowly, about 6mm each year. Our coral specimen is over 480mm in diameter, so it was probably over 80 years old when it was collected. The life span of the largest brain corals is over 200 years.

Carol Davies AMA
Curator of Collections
Kendal Museum