This unique 'zombie fingers' fungus is highly endangered

4 Jul 2021

Image depicting unique 'zombie fingers' fungus that is highly endangered

This unique ‘zombie fingers’ fungus is highly endangered

This unique ‘zombie fingers’ fungus is highly endangeredA fungus (plural: fungi) is a type of organism that gets its food from decaying material or other living things. The fungi family includes mushrooms and toadstools. Fungi are found worldwide but often not very visible as they are quite small. Many of them are also attached to other living beings like plants or animals. Some fungi are very useful while some are dangerous to us as well as plants and animals.

Hypocreopsis amplectens or tea-tree fingers is a very unusual-looking fungus found in Australia. It looks like zombie human fingers clinging to wood! While it looks scary, it evolved this way to help it grow over curves, without cracking and falling.

This fungus is a type of parasite but it is actually also dependent on another type of fungus that decays (rots) wood. It is also a snack for insects.

Tea-tree fingers are extremely rare and are found only in a few places in Victoria, southeastern Australia. Thankfully, researchers and volunteers have recently reported that it is also growing in two new locations on an island nearby. This find offers hope for the survival of the highly endangered fungus.
Why is it important to preserve them?
While many organisms on Earth may not be directly linked to us, all life on Earth is connected to one another in some way. Each organism plays a role in nature. So, it is important to try and save all that we can.

Curious Times is committed to providing the best experience and news to children. We bring to you the Curious Times Weekly with the top news of the week. You can also check out The Curious Magazine, written by children,  for children.

We would love for you, dear children, to write and get your stories, art, thoughts and more published at My Expressions. Write to us at hello@curioustimes.in.

You can also follow us on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Youtube, Twitter, LinkedIn.

Recommended for Middle Grades

A fungus (plural: fungi) is a type of organism that gets its food from decaying material or other living things. The fungi family includes mushrooms […]

To read more...

Share your comment! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

To post your comment Login/Signup