Paleoophiocordyceps

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Paleoophiocordyceps
Paleoophiocordyceps coccophagus.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Order: Hypocreales
Family: Ophiocordycipitaceae
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

  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.