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The oldest fossil mushroom.

Sam W Heads1, Andrew N Miller1, J Leland Crane1

  • 1Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States of America.

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Summary

A newly discovered fossil mushroom, Gondwanagaricites magnificus, from Brazil

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Mycology
  • Geology

Background:

  • Fossil mushrooms are rare, typically found preserved in amber.
  • The Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation offers unique fossilization conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe and illustrate a new fossil mushroom species.
  • To establish the oldest known fossil mushroom record.
  • To report the first fossil mushroom from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.

Main Methods:

  • Fossil excavation and collection from the Crato Formation.
  • Detailed morphological analysis of the fossil specimen.
  • Comparative analysis with known fossil and extant fungi.

Main Results:

  • Discovery of Gondwanagaricites magnificus gen. et sp. nov.
  • Exceptional preservation as a mineralized replacement in limestone.
  • Gondwanagaricites is the oldest fossil mushroom on record, dating back to the Lower Cretaceous.
  • This finding represents the first fossil mushroom discovered in Gondwana.

Conclusions:

  • Gondwanagaricites magnificus expands our understanding of early fungal evolution.
  • Mineralized preservation provides a new perspective on fossil mushroom diversity.
  • The discovery highlights the paleontological significance of the Crato Formation for understanding ancient ecosystems.