Carnivorous mushrooms in amber

2007/12/14 Lakar Iraizoz, Oihane - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Paleontologia
• Arkeologia

German researchers have discovered the oldest carnivorous fungi ever found in both one hundred million years. The truth is that they have been surprised by the discovery, because this type of fungi live in the soil in general and not in the trees that produce resin that will become amber.

Rare or not, they have found them. Moreover, in the hyfa, the basic structure of the filament of fungi, all phases of the fungus life cycle have been differentiated, both spore producing structures, and blastospores and structures used to capture prey.

To access the dams were developed anilladas structures that have been found tied to the hyfa or free of it. In fact, they have seen that they have small particles around the rings and have said that probably these particles would segregate an adhesive substance to facilitate the grip of their prey.

The researchers believe that prey were worm-shaped nematodes, since, along with fungi, nematodes of the same diameter of the fossilized rings in amber have been found. Apparently, the nematodes were surrounded by rings, to later introduce and digest the animals.

Photo: Science