An international team of paleontologists led by Chinese scientists has unearthed two new species of parasitic fungi preserved in 100-million-year-old amber from Myanmar. This remarkable discovery sheds light on the ancient co-evolution of fungi and insects.
Ophiocordyceps, often referred to as ‘zombie’ fungi, are known for their ability to infect insects and control their behavior. Wang Bo, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led the study. “Since fungi lack hard structures and decay easily, fossil evidence of Ophiocordyceps has been scarce,” Wang explained. “Our findings offer valuable insights into their origin and evolution.”
The newly discovered fossil species are exceptionally well-preserved, allowing scientists to compare them directly with living counterparts. Using advanced techniques like micro-CT scanning, the team identified the fungi’s parasitic hosts.
By analyzing genetic data from 120 existing Ophiocordyceps species and referencing the new fossils, the researchers reconstructed the fungi’s evolutionary timeline. “Our results indicate that Ophiocordyceps originated around 130 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period,” Wang said. “This pushes back their origin by about 30 million years compared to previous estimates.”
The study was published online in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, providing a groundbreaking look into ancient life on Earth.
