In order to commemorate the sandworm "Shai-Hulud" in Frank Herbert's famous science fiction series "Dune", a newly discovered gastric fungus was named "Shai-Hulud". The researchers were inspired by the fungus' appearance and habitat, which resemble the sandworms from Frank Herbert's famous science fiction novel.
The new species Tulostomashaihuludii was discovered in Hungary and is one of four new species discovered in the genus Tulostoma. The research results were published in the journal "MycoKeys". Other species of the same genus are Tulostomadunense, Tulostomahungaricum and Tulostomasacchariolens.
The researchers chose this name because of the worm-like shape of the species' fruit body and the sandy habitat of the Pannonian steppe where it was found.
Gasteroidfungi is a general name for a variety of fungi in the phylum Basidiomycota. It generally refers to the group whose basidiospores are produced inside the basidiocarps rather than on the surface of the basidiocarps. These taxa include puffballs, earth stars, bird's nest fungi, ghost pens, false truffles, etc. In the past, they were classified into the class Gasteromycetes or the order Gasteromycetales. However, molecular sequence analysis shows that these groups are not evolutionarily related. Nowadays, gastromycetes are only used as an informal general name.
These findings are of particular importance as steppe vegetation on Hungary's sandy soils has been identified as a hotspot for gastroenteroid fungi in Europe. The research team conducted a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the Hungarian gastroenteroid fungi, contributing to the understanding of the diversity of this fungal group.
The discovery of Tulostomashaihuludii illustrates the intricate connections between species and their habitats. It also highlights the importance of geographic isolation in the emergence of new species, as is the case with Tulostomadunense, which is closely related to North American species but is clearly distinct through genetic analysis.
Compiled source: ScitechDaily