Water spangles
Salvinia minima
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Polypodiopsida
Order
Salviniales
Family
Salviniaceae
Genus
Salvinia
Water spangles belongs to the family Salviniaceae, order Salviniales, within the Polypodiopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Water spangles faces severe threats from habitat degradation, water pollution, and competition from invasive aquatic species that can rapidly colonize and dominate freshwater ecosystems. Climate change and altered hydrological patterns further threaten the delicate balance of shallow water environments this species depends on. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but populations continue to decline due to human impacts on freshwater systems.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Water spangles inhabits shallow freshwater environments including ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams, and wetlands with calm or still water surfaces. This free-floating aquatic fern typically occurs in nutrient-rich waters and can form dense mats on the water surface in suitable conditions.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Water spangles faces severe threats from habitat degradation, water pollution, and competition from invasive aquatic species that can rapidly colonize and dominate freshwater ecosystems. Climate change and altered hydrological patterns further threaten the delicate balance of shallow water environments this species depends on. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but populations continue to decline due to human impacts on freshwater systems.
Competition from invasive aquatic plant species
Habitat degradation and wetland destruction
Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Hydrological modifications and water level fluctuations
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Water spangles (Salvinia minima). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/water-spangles