A group of researchers from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) made history when they discovered a new species of fungus that resembles a horn in the Danum Valley Conservation Area in Lahad Datu, recently. That said, what should you know about it?
The first of its kind in the world
According to BERNAMA, the species named Pleurocordyceps cornusynnemata was confirmed as the first discovery of its kind in the world through publication in the international taxonomic journal Phytotaxa. Associate Prof Dr Jaya Seelan Sathiya Seelan from the Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation (IBTP) UMS said the fungus has a physical structure resembling a horn, thus distinguishing it from 26 other species in the Pleurocordyceps genus, which were previously recorded in China, Thailand and Japan.
In the same study, the team also recorded two other species, namely Pleurocordyceps aurantiaca, which was found on Diptera insects, and Pleurocordyceps nipponica, which was found on cicada nymphs, and both are new records in Malaysia.
Moreover, the study was led by him together with two postgraduate students, Muhammad Shahbaz (PhD) and Firdza Zulkarnain Mohadden (Master), as well as the participation of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) researcher Dr Yap Jing Wei and student Jeremiah Sia Yiao Rong, as well as citizen scientist Elyse Yang.
Furthermore, the fungal specimen is now stored at the BORNEENSIS IBTP UMS reference centre as scientific reference material for future.
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