Spongiforma squarepantsii

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Spongiforma squarepantsii
Two halves of the orangish sponge-like fungus, with a ruler shown at the bottom for scale.
Two halves of the orangish sponge-like fungus, with a ruler shown at the bottom for scale.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Boletales
Family: Boletaceae
Genus: Spongiforma
Species:
S. squarepantsii
Binomial name
Spongiforma squarepantsii
Desjardin, Peay & T.D.Bruns (2011)
Map of Malaysia, highlighting the state of Sarawak
Map of Sarawak, Malaysia, location of Lambir Hills National Park

Spongiforma squarepantsii is a

Nickelodeon cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants from the show of the same name. S. squarepantsii is one of two species in Spongiforma; it differs from S. thailandica in its color, odour, and spore
structure.

Taxonomy and classification

History

The species was first described scientifically online in May 2011 in the journal

dipterocarp rainforest in Lambir Hills, although it was not formally described in this publication.[2] Because of its unusual form, Desjardin and colleagues were initially uncertain whether the new species was a member of the Basidiomycota or the Ascomycota. Further analysis showed that the species was aligned with Spongiforma, a genus that was newly described from dipterocarp forests of Thailand in 2009.[3] The similarity between the species collected in Borneo and Spongiforma thailandica was confirmed with molecular analysis, which showed a 98% match between ribosomal DNA sequences of the two.[4]

The genus name Spongiforma refers to the sponge-like nature of the fruit body, while the

scanning electron microscopy, somewhat resembles a "seafloor covered with tube sponges, reminiscent of the fictitious home of SpongeBob".[4] Although the epithet was originally rejected by the editors of Mycologia as "frivolous", Desjardin and colleagues insisted that "we could name it whatever we liked".[5]

Description

The fruit body of Spongiforma squarepantsii is bright orange coloured, roughly spherical to oval, and measures 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) wide by 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) tall. Although it lacks a stipe, it has a rudimentary columella—a small cord of sterile tissue that extends to the center of the fruit body. The surface of the fruit body has deep ridges and folds somewhat resembling a brain. It is sponge-like and rubbery—if water is squeezed out, it will resume its original shape. The surface has irregular, relatively large cavities (locules), lined with fertile (spore-producing) tissue. The locules are between 2 and 10 mm (0.1 and 0.4 in) in diameter. The ridges of the locules are pale orange or lighter and ciliate (having hairlike projections). Fruit bodies have a strong odour described as "vaguely fruity or strongly musty".[4] The mushroom tissue turns purple when a drop of 3% potassium hydroxide (KOH) is applied. In mass, the spores are a reddish-brown or deep mahogany colour.[4] The edibility of the fruit body is unknown.[6]

Electron micrograph showing several dozen ellipsoid spores with rough surfaces and a distinct pore in each.
Scanning electron micrograph of the hymenium showing the warty spores with the prominent germ pore. Scale bar = 10 μm

The almond-shaped

cystidia mixed with chains of erect cylindrical hyphae measuring 4–6 μm in diameter. The cystidia are roughly cylindrical, and have dimensions of 20–60 μm by 4–9 μm. There are no clamp connections present in the hyphae of the fungus.[4]

Similar species

The related species Spongiforma thailandica, newly described in 2009,[3] differs from S. squarepantsii in several ways: it has larger fruit bodies, 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) wide by 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) tall; its gleba is initially pale greyish-orange to brownish-grey before darkening to reddish-brown or dark brown; and it smells of coal tar. Microscopically, S. thailandica has spores with less prominent surface warts.[4]

Habitat and distribution

Spongiforma squarepantsii was found growing on the ground in Lambir Hills National Park (Sarawak State, Malaysia), northern Borneo (4°20′N 113°50′E / 4.333°N 113.833°E / 4.333; 113.833). This tropical rainforest receives about 3,000 millimetres (120 in) of rain yearly, with average temperatures ranging from 24 to 32 °C (75 to 90 °F).[4] The structure of the fruit body allows it to quickly revive when dry by absorbing moisture from the air.[7] The distinctive odour of the species may indicate that spore dispersal is mediated by animals.[4]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T155269816A155269858.en
    . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. PMID 19878464
    .
  3. ^ a b Desjardin DE, Binder M, Roekring S, Flegel T (2009). "Spongiforma, a new genus of gasteroid boletes from Thailand" (PDF). Fungal Diversity. 37: 1–8.
  4. ^
    S2CID 15849227
    .
  5. ^ GrrlScientist (22 June 2011). "The new fungus from Bikini Bottom". Punctuated Equilibrium, The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  6. ^ Willingham E. (22 June 2011). "Dennis Desjardin: A fungus named after SpongeBob". Earthsky.org. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  7. ^ Staff writer (22 June 2011). "SpongeBob lends name to new mushroom species". BBC. Retrieved 5 October 2011.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spongiforma_squarepantsii&oldid=1207102278"