Instagram Selfie Leads to Find of Giant New Water Lily
An accidental background sighting in an Instagram selfie taken in the Colombian jungle has led scientists to discover a new species of giant water lily. Botanist Carlos Magdalena spotted the plant in a 2021 photo from Colombia's Inirida region in the Orinoco watershed. Indigenous guides later led researchers to the physical plants. Named Victoria colombiana, the rare species features pads measuring up to 2 meters or 6.6 feet across. Researchers describe the find as jaw-dropping, though the newly identified species faces severe conservation threats in its native habitat.
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- ✓ A plant selfie posted on Instagram from Colombia's Inirida region in 2021 led scientists to discover a new species of giant water lily named Victoria colombiana.
- ✓ Kew botanist Carlos Magdalena spotted the plant in the background of the social media post before indigenous guides led researchers to locate it.
- ✓ The newly described species features pads measuring up to 2 meters or 6.6 feet across.
What changed
A newly published paper in the journal Phytotaxa officially describes Victoria colombiana as a distinct species.
Live updates
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Instagram Selfie Leads to Discovery of Giant New Water Lily
An accidental background sighting in an Instagram selfie taken in the Colombian jungle has led scientists to discover a new species of giant water lily. Botanist Carlos Magdalena spotted the plant in a 2021 photo from Colombia's Inirida region in the Orinoco watershed. Indigenous guides later led researchers to the physical plants. Named Victoria colombiana, the rare species features pads measuring up to 2 meters or 6.6 feet across. Researchers describe the find as jaw-dropping, though the newly identified species faces severe conservation threats in its native habitat.
Why it matters
Giant water lilies belonging to the genus Victoria are among the most striking plants in the world, with leaves large enough to be spotted from space. Before this discovery, scientists recognized only three other species within the genus. The newly documented species highlights how modern social media platforms can unexpectedly aid scientific fieldwork and biodiversity research.
What is confirmed
- A plant selfie posted on Instagram from Colombia's Inirida region in 2021 led scientists to discover a new species of giant water lily named Victoria colombiana.
- Kew botanist Carlos Magdalena spotted the plant in the background of the social media post before indigenous guides led researchers to locate it.
- The newly described species features pads measuring up to 2 meters or 6.6 feet across.
Still unconfirmed
- There are fewer than 50 wild plants of the new waterlily species left.
What to watch next
- Implementation of upcoming conservation plans to protect the critically endangered water lily species.
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (13)
- www.meta.com — Instagram - Meta
- www.youtube.com — Instagram - YouTube
- Phys.org — Chance Instagram sighting leads to discovery of rare giant water lily in Colombia
- The Guardian — How a plant selfie in Colombian jungle led to ‘jaw dropping’ giant waterlily find
- Gizmodo — Someone Posted an Instagram Selfie. Scientists Spotted a Giant New Species in the Background
- PetaPixel — Instagram Selfie Accidentally Leads to Discovery of Giant Waterlily Species
- gizmodo.com — Someone Posted an Instagram Selfie. Scientists Spotted a Giant New Species in the Background - Gizmodo
- Newser — Instagram Selfie Leads to Find of Giant New Water Lily
- Phys.org — Chance Instagram sighting leads to discovery of rare giant water lily in Colombia
- www.theguardian.com — How a plant selfie in Colombian jungle led to ‘jaw dropping ...
- www.newser.com — Instagram Selfie Leads to Find of Giant New Water Lily - Newser
- www.techtimes.com — New Giant Waterlily Found via Instagram Has Fewer Than 50 Wild Plants Left - Tech Times
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