Description

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Picture Courtesy: NEWINDIANEXPRESS

Context

The rare fungal species Hygrocybe pellucida has been observed for the first time within Telangana's Kawal Tiger Reserve.

About Hygrocybe pellucida

What is it?

Hygrocybe pellucida is a species of fungi belonging to the genus Hygrocybe, which are popularly known as "wax caps".

Key Characteristics

This group of fungi is known for its distinctive appearance: They have bright, waxy, and often vividly colored fruiting bodies (the visible part of the mushroom).

Habitat

They grow in unimproved, nutrient-poor habitats such as grasslands and mossy forest floors.

Their presence is considered an indicator of a healthy, undisturbed ecosystem.

Recent Discovery

It was first identified as a new species from the Hygrophoraceae family in Kerala in 2024. The sighting in Telangana expands its known geographical range.

About Kawal Tiger Reserve

Location:

It is located in Telangana, along the banks of the Godavari River.
It forms a part of the Deccan Peninsula-Central Highlands biogeographic zone.
It serves as a crucial corridor, connecting the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra with the Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh.

Establishment: The Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve by the Government of India in 2012.

River Systems: The reserve is an important catchment area for the Godavari and Kadam rivers, which flow through the region.

Flora and Fauna:

Vegetation: The forest type is predominantly Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
Flora: The key tree species include Teak and Bamboo, along with others like Anogeissus latifolia (Axlewood).
Fauna: Besides being a tiger habitat, the reserve is home to a wide range of herbivores like nilgai, chousinga (four-horned antelope), sambar, and spotted deer.

Source: NEWINDIANEXPRESS

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Hygrocybe pellucida:

It is a species of bioluminescent fungus discovered in the Andaman Islands.
The species name 'pellucida' refers to its transparent appearance.
It indicates a parasitic relationship with the host tree.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 2 only

B) 1 and 3 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect. Hygrocybe pellucida is a newly discovered mushroom, but it is not described as bioluminescent, and it was found in the Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana, not the Andaman Islands.

Statement 2 is correct. The species name is derived from the Latin word for "transparent" or "pellucid," which accurately describes its key characteristic.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The mushroom was found growing on dead tree branches, indicating it is saprophytic (a decomposer), not parasitic on living trees.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It is a new species of translucent, jelly-like mushroom discovered for the first time in the Kawal Tiger Reserve, Telangana.

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. They are distinct from plants and animals, possessing their own kingdom. Fungi are non-motile, non-vascular, and heterotrophic, meaning they cannot produce their own food.

Fungi are essential decomposers, recycling nutrients from dead plants and animals and returning them to the soil. Without them, dead organic matter would pile up, and ecosystems would eventually collapse. This process releases vital nutrients like carbon and nitrogen for other organisms to use.