Sarah Brown
Giant mushrooms once existed and dominated the prehistoric world. The Prototaxites, an extinct genus of large macroscopic eukaryote, is the most famous giant mushroom. It stood roughly 24 feet tall and 3 feet wide, towering over most land plants of the Silurian Period. The taxonomy of Prototaxites has long been debated, with scientists arguing over how to classify it. However, in 2007, a team of researchers from the University of Chicago and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History concluded that it was a giant fungus. Today, there are still some monstrous mushrooms, such as the Blue Mountain honey mushroom, which is made up of millions of genetically identical mushroom caps.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Prototaxites |
| Height | 24 feet (8m) tall, with some estimates of nearly 30 feet |
| Width | 3 feet (1m) wide |
| Weight | 7,500 to 35,000 tons (6.8 million to 31.7 million kilograms) |
| Period | Late Silurian to Late Devonian |
| Type of organism | A fungus, though some debate if it was a lichen or alga |
| Cause of extinction | Competition from plants and herbivores (fungivores) |
| Location | Fossils found in Saudi Arabia, New York's Hudson Valley region, Oregon |
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What You'll Learn
Prototaxites, a giant fungus
Prototaxites is an extinct genus of large macroscopic eukaryote, dating from the Late Silurian to the Late Devonian periods. It formed trunk-like structures, up to 1 metre wide and 8 metres tall, composed of interwoven tubules. The taxonomy of Prototaxites has been a subject of debate for over 165 years. Initially, Prototaxites fossils discovered in 1843 were studied by Canadian scientist J.W. Dawson, who described them as partially rotten giant conifers containing decomposing fungi. However, in 1872, W. Carruthers refuted this claim, arguing that Prototaxites was a giant marine alga.
Despite Carruthers' interpretation, A.H. Church suggested in 1919 that the possibility of Prototaxites being a fungus should not be ruled out. In 2001, Francis Hueber from the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., published a paper concluding that Prototaxites was indeed a fungus based on its morphology. This conclusion was met with scepticism, but subsequent evidence has provided further support. In 2007, isotopic analyses by a team including Hueber and K.C. Boyce of the University of Chicago reinforced the idea that Prototaxites was a giant fungus. They discovered a highly variable range of carbon isotope ratios in Prototaxites specimens, indicating that the organism did not rely on photosynthesis and instead fed on a variety of substrates, including the remains of other organisms.
The structure of Prototaxites fossils suggests a connection to root-like structures, and concentric growth rings indicate sporadic growth through the addition of external layers. The preserved trunk-like structures are likely the fruiting body or sporophore of a fungus, fuelled by a mycelium, a network of dispersed filaments. On a microscopic level, the fossils consist of two types of narrow tube-like structures: skeletal tubes and generative filaments, which weave together to form the distinctive structure of Prototaxites.
While Prototaxites is widely considered a fungus, the debate continues regarding its exact relationship with extant fungus lineages. Some propose that it was saprotrophic, similar to modern fungi, while others suggest it was a lichenised autotroph. Prototaxites is recognised as the first giant organism to live on land, and its height may have served the purpose of spore dispersal or enhanced light capture, possibly in combination with symbiotic or parasitic algae. The mystery surrounding Prototaxites underscores the intriguing possibility that giant mushrooms, or fungi, once existed, challenging our understanding of the boundaries between plants, animals, and fungi.
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The largest organisms on Earth
One of the most well-known contenders for the largest organism is the Antarctic blue whale, which is considered the largest animal on Earth. Weighing in at approximately 400,000 pounds, or about 33 elephants, and spanning up to 98 feet in length, the blue whale is an impressive example of Earth's giants.
However, the largest organism title may actually belong to a fungus. The discovery of the Humongous Fungus, or Armillaria ostoyae, in the Malheur National Forest of Oregon, USA, has challenged the notion of the blue whale as the largest organism. This fungus spans an incredible 2,385 acres and weighs a staggering 35,000 tons, far surpassing the blue whale in terms of area and mass. The debate surrounding the Humongous Fungus revolves around whether it is a single organism or a colony, but DNA analyses suggest that it is indeed a single, interconnected entity.
Another notable mention in the fungi kingdom is Prototaxites, an extinct genus of large eukaryotes from the Late Silurian period. Prototaxites formed trunk-like structures up to 8 meters (26 feet) in length and 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter, towering over most land plants of its time.
In the plant kingdom, several organisms compete for the largest title. The giant sequoia is the most massive tree by wood volume and mass, while Pando, a clonal colony of quaking aspen trees, is considered the largest organism by mass, with colonies spanning up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) in size. Additionally, a giant marine plant, Posidonia australis, found in Shark Bay, Australia, covers an impressive area of 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) and stretches about 180 kilometers (112 miles) in length.
The concept of the largest organism is multifaceted, considering various aspects such as mass, volume, area, length, height, and genome size. While the aforementioned organisms stand out in their respective kingdoms, the definition of 'largest' can vary depending on the specific criteria being measured.
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Prehistoric fungi
Giant mushrooms did indeed exist in prehistoric times. The existence of these towering fungi was discovered through fossils, with one stump in particular baffling paleontologists for over a century. The fossil, discovered in Saudi Arabia, was initially thought to be a plant, an alga, a lichen, or something else entirely. It was eventually identified as a giant fungus called Prototaxites, which is now extinct. Prototaxites is believed to have been the tallest living organism of its time, reaching heights of up to 8 metres (26 feet) and a width of 1 metre (3 feet). It is thought that Prototaxites may have used its height for spore dispersal or to increase its ability to capture light.
The taxonomy of Prototaxites has been a subject of debate for many years. While it is widely considered to be a fungus, there is still ongoing discussion about its exact relationship with extant fungus lineages. Prototaxites is believed to have been a perennial organism that grew over multiple years, and several ecologies have been proposed to explain its growth. Some scientists suggest that it was saprotrophic, like many modern fungi, while others propose that it was a lichenised autotroph.
The debate over the classification of Prototaxites was intense, with scientists initially disagreeing over whether it was a plant, alga, or fungus. Canadian scientist J.W. Dawson first studied Prototaxites fossils in 1857, describing them as partially rotten giant conifers containing decomposing fungi. This idea was challenged in 1872 by rival scientist W. Carruthers, who insisted that Prototaxites was a giant marine alga. It was not until 2001 that a paper published by Francis Hueber of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., provided strong evidence that Prototaxites was indeed a fungus.
In 2007, isotopic analyses by a team from the University of Chicago, including Hueber and K.C. Boyce, provided further support for the classification of Prototaxites as a fungus. They found a highly variable range of carbon isotope ratios in Prototaxites specimens, indicating that the organism did not rely on photosynthesis and instead fed on the remains of other nearby organisms. This discovery, along with the presence of boreholes and evidence of animal habitation, has helped to piece together the story of this giant prehistoric fungus.
While Prototaxites is an impressive example of a prehistoric giant fungus, it is not the only one known to science. Other prehistoric fungi include Appianoporites, Archaeomarasmius, Aureofungus, and Chaenothecopsis polissica, to name a few. The existence of these giant fungi showcases the fascinating diversity of life forms that have existed on our planet throughout its long history.
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Giant mushrooms today
While giant mushrooms may seem like something out of a fantasy novel, they are very real and exist in the present day. One notable example is the honey mushroom, specifically the species Armillaria ostoyae, found in Oregon's Blue Mountains. This colony of fungal clones stretches over 2,385 acres, making it a strong contender for the largest organism on Earth. The sheer size of this interconnected, genetically identical colony challenges our understanding of what constitutes an organism.
The discovery of the honey mushroom's vast expanse in Oregon was made in 1998, but the search for giant mushrooms continues to yield new findings. In Michigan, researchers discovered an even larger colony of honey mushrooms, weighing approximately 10.5 tons and covering 37 acres. This find trumped previous records for the world's largest organism.
The Blue Mountain honey mushroom is not the only giant mushroom species that exists today. Prototaxites, an extinct genus of large eukaryotes, has also been discovered through fossils. This fungus towered over most land plants during the Silurian Period, reaching heights of more than 24 feet (8 meters) and a width of up to 3 feet (1 meter). The debate surrounding the taxonomy of Prototaxites continues, with ongoing research aiming to clarify its relationship with extant fungus lineages.
The existence of giant mushrooms, both in the present and past, showcases the fascinating world of fungi and their potential for immense growth. These mushrooms, with their massive size and unique characteristics, continue to captivate and puzzle scientists, leaving us with many unanswered questions and exciting areas for further exploration.
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Why giant mushrooms disappeared
Giant mushrooms, or Prototaxites, were once plentiful during the Devonian Period, between 420 and 350 million years ago. At the time, plants had not yet flourished, and the Earth's land was covered in cryptobiotic soil, a rich breeding ground for fungi.
Prototaxites towered over most land plants, reaching up to 8 metres (26 feet) in height and 1 metre (3 feet) in width. They were the tallest living organisms of their time. However, their large size may have ultimately led to their downfall. As plants evolved and grew taller, the advantage of height for spore dispersal was lost, and the giant mushrooms may have struggled to compete for nutrients.
The rise of vascular plants is thought to have played a role in the extinction of Prototaxites. Evidence suggests that arthropod boreholes in Prototaxites transferred to plants as they evolved structurally equivalent woody stems. Additionally, Prototaxites may have been outcompeted for resources as the environment changed. The giant mushrooms fed on a range of substrates, including the remains of other organisms. However, with the emergence of land plants and animals, the availability of these resources may have decreased.
Another theory suggests that Prototaxites may have struggled to recover from animals eating them. Their large size made them a bigger target, and without a hard outer shell, they were more susceptible to predation.
The disappearance of giant mushrooms remains a subject of scientific debate, and while they no longer exist in their former grandeur, they have evolved into the smaller mushrooms we know today.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, giant mushrooms existed in the prehistoric era. The most famous giant mushroom was Prototaxites, which was an extinct genus of large macroscopic eukaryote dating from the Late Silurian until the Late Devonian periods. It stood roughly 24 feet tall and 3 feet wide, making it the largest land-dwelling organism of its time.
Some examples of giant fungi include the Blue Mountain honey mushroom in Oregon, which is made up of millions of genetically identical mushrooms, and the Armillaria Ostoyae, which covers 2,385 acres in Oregon's Malheur National Forest. There are also reports of a termite mound mushroom in Africa that is bigger than a lot of humans.
There are a few theories as to why giant mushrooms no longer exist. One theory suggests that the onset of land plants and animals made it detrimental to be that big, as they could not compete with trees in length. Another theory posits that herbivores (fungivores) prevented large, permanent aboveground structures from surviving. Additionally, the presence of animals made extreme spore-spreading structures unnecessary, as many existing fungi spread spores using bugs.
