Four new species of Mushroom from Thailand.

Mushrooms of the genus Agaricus are well studied in temperate regions, where there are over 400 species divided into eight groups, including many commercially important medical species. The group is also found in the tropics, where it is likely to be much more diverse, although it is poorly studied here. Many tropical Agaricus Mushrooms are known not to fit into the traditional eight divisions, suggesting that fitting these Fungi into the group’s taxonomy will require considerable revision of the genus.

In a paper published in the journal Phytotaxa on 14 January 2015, a team of mycologists led by Jie Chen of the State key laboratory of Mycology at the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Instituteof Excellence in Fungal Research and School of Science at Mae Fah LuangUniversity present a study of tropical members of the section Brunneopicti of the genus Agaricus in which four new species are described, all from Thailand.

The first new species described is named Agaricus niveogranulatus, meaning ‘white granules’, in reference to the colour and texture of the squamules (scales on the upper surface of the Mushroom). The Mushrooms of this fungus are 10-16 cm in diameter, starting out as hemisphere, but becoming flatter as they mature. The gills start out white, turning pink as they mature, then orange-brown, then brown, then dark brown. The flesh of the Mushroom is white, and gives of a phenol-like smell. These Mushrooms were found in Dipterocarp forests, Bamboo woodland and grassland, as well as in cultivated parks and gardens. It was found in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai Provinces of Thailand.

Section viewof Agaricus niveogranulatus in laboratory. Scale bar is 20 mm. Chen et al. (2015).

The second new species described is named Agaricus brunneosquamulosus, meaning ‘brown squamules’, a reference to the colour of the scales on the upper surface of the Mushroom. The Mushrooms of this species reach 3-6 cm in diameter, starting out convex then flattening as they age. The gills are pinkish to grey, and turn dark brown with age. The flesh of the Mushroom is white, but turns pink after being cut, and emits a phenol-like smell. The species was found growing in grassland and gardens in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Specimen of Agaricus brunneosquamulosus growing in the wild. Scale bar is 10 mm. Chen et al. (2015).

The third new species is named Agaricus sordidocarpus, in reference to the dirty appearance of the Mushrooms, which have fibrous squamules and develop a grey tint after rain. The Mushrooms grow up to 4 cm in diameter, grey-brown in colour and convex with a flattened top. The gills are pink or brownish-grey, turning darker as they age. The flesh of the Mushrooms is firm and white, and emits a phenol-like smell. The species was found growing in the grounds of Chiang Mai University.

Brownish gray squamules on the upper surface of an Agaricus sordidocarpusMushroom. Scale bar is 10 mm. Chen et al. (2015).

The final new species is named Agaricus toluenolens, in reference to the toluene-like odour the Mushrooms produce when bruised (expand). The Mushrooms are 3-6 cm in diameter and convex to flat in shape, with brownish-grey squamules. The gills are pink to brownish-grey, turning browner as they age. The flesh is firm and white, but with a strong, unpleasant smell. The Mushroom was found growing on grass in Chang Mai Province.

Mushroom of Agaricus toluenolens. Scale bar is 10 mm. Chen et al. (2015).

See also…

Two new species of Coral Fungi from the Ozark region of Arkansas.                                        Coral Fungi of the genus Ramaria have been extensively studied in the temperate rainforests of the American Pacific Northwest, and to a lesser extent in the forests of America’s Eastern Seaboard, but are...

A new species of Earthstar Fungus from the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary of northeast Thailand.

Earthstars (Geastrales) are distinctive Macro-fungi (fungi that produce large fruiting bodies) found in...

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

Three new species of Polydesmid Millipedes from Thailand.

Polydesmid Millipedes of the family Paradoxosomatidae are found from South and Southeast Asia to Australia, dominating Millipede faunas in many areas. With over 1000 species in 200 genera the Paradoxosomatidae is probably the most specious group of Polydesmid Millipedes. The genus Tylopus is found in southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. With 52 described species, 29 of which have been recorded in Thailand, it is one of the largest genera in the Paradoxosomatidae.

In a paper published on the journal ZooKeys on 18 August 2014, Natdanai Likhitrakarn of the Division of Plant Protection at Maejo University, Sergei Golovatch of the Institute for Problems of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences and Somsak Panha of the Animal Systematics Research Unit at Chulalongkorn University, describe three new species of Tylopus from Thailand.

The first new species is named Tylopus corrugatus, in reference to a series of ridges on the dorsal part of its body segments. The species is described from 7 male, five female and two juvenile specimens collected in the Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai Province. The females are on average slightly longer than the males, at 16.5–21.0 mm, compared to 15.5–18.2 mm. They are brown in colour with darker backs and lighter undersides.

Tylopus corrugatus, male specimen in dorsal view. Likhitrakarn et al. (2014).

The second new species is named Tylopus parahilaroides, in reference to its similarity to the previously described species Tylopus hilaroides (‘parahilaroides’ means ‘beside hilaroides’). The species is described from two specimens, one male and one female, the male being 34 mm in length and the female 33 mm. They are reddish brown in colour, with yellowish limbs.

Tylopus parahilaroides, male specimen in dorsal view. Likhitrakarn et al. (2014).

The third new species is named Tylopus trigonum, in reference to the triangular markings on the dorsal surface of its body segments. The species is described from two male and three female specimens, collected from beside two waterfalls in Umphang District in Tak Province. The males are on average larger than the females, at 21.2–27.8 mm, compared to 22.1–24.0 mm. They are light brown in colour, with a dark brown dorsal surface, which has a series of lighter triangles.

Tylopus trigonum, male specimen in dorsal view. Likhitrakarn et al. (2014).

See also…

Two new species of Flat-backed Millipede from Miocene Mexican amber.                   Millipedes, Diplopoda, are highly successful soil dwelling Arthropods found in soil in all temperate and tropical...

A new species of Geophilomorph Centipede from Cretaceous Burmese amber.

Centipedes (Myripoda) are carnivorous terrestrial Arthropods with elongate, multi-segmented bodies, having one pair of legs per body segment. The number of legs varies highly, from under 20 to over 300, though the number of pairs is always odd. The first pair of limbs is modified to form a pair of venomous forcipules (claws) used to subdue prey. There are around 3000...

The origin of the Millipede Hoplatessara luxuriosa.

The Millipede Hoplatessara luxuriosa was first described under the name Strongylosoma luxuriosum by the Italian entomologist Fillipo Silvestri in 1895, based upon specimens apparently collected at Sorong in New...

 

 

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.