Paleoophiocordyceps

Paleoophiocordyceps
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Division:
Subdivision:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Paleoophiocordyceps

Sung, et al., 2008
Species:
P. coccophagus
Binomial name
Paleoophiocordyceps coccophagus
Sung, et al., 2008

Paleoophiocordyceps coccophagus is an extinct parasitic fungus in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae from Cretaceous-aged Burmese amber.[1] P. coccophagus' morphology is very similar to the species of Ophiocordyceps. The only known specimen consists of two whip-like fruiting bodies emerging from the head of a male scale insect of an undescribed species very similar to the extinct species Albicoccus dimai.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sung GH, Poinar GO Jr, Spatafora JW (2008). "The oldest fossil evidence of animal parasitism by fungi supports a Cretaceous diversification of fungal–arthropod symbioses". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 49 (2): 495–502. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2008.08.028. PMID 18817884.