Potteromyces asteroxylicola

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Context

• Researchers discovered a 407-million-year-old fungus fossil, Potteromyces asteroxylicola from the Rhynie Chert in Scotland.

Details

• Dubbed the Potteromyces asteroxylicola, this fungal plant pathogen is a staggering 407 million years old, and named after Beatrix Potter, the renowned author of 'Tales of Peter Rabbit'.
• Potteromyces asteroxylicola was found infecting the ancient plant Asteroxylon mackiei, showcasing a predator-prey interaction that occurred while the plant was alive.
• The unique reproductive structures of Potteromyces, known as conidiophores, stood out with their unusual shape and formation, leading to its designation as a new species.