🌳 Scientists have found a real "Tolkien tree" underwater 8 October, in Costa Rica.
At a depth of several hundred metres off the coast of Costa Rica, researchers discovered an unusual golden-yellow coral, which looks more like a fantastical tree than an ordinary marine organism.
It turned out to be so unusual that scientists had to assign it a separate new family.
And then the biologists decided that an ordinary Latin name was clearly not enough here.
The new organism was given the name Laurinque elenya, inspired by Quenya — the Elvish language from the world of J. R. R. Tolkien. The name refers to the golden tree and the stars.
And if you look at the coral, the choice becomes quite understandable.
Thin golden branches spread out in the darkness of the ocean as if someone had accidentally transported a little piece of Middle-earth to the seabed.
So it turns out that scientists set off to study a deep-sea ecosystem…
and found a ready-made set for a new instalment of "The Lord of the Rings".
All that remains is to check the neighbouring cliff.
What if Mordor is there. 😄
