Extinct Moa Consumed Colorful Truffle-Like Fungi, Scientists Say

Extinct Moa Consumed Colorful Truffle-Like Fungi, Scientists Say
Boast et al. report ancient DNA and spores from the inside of two coprolites of the upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) that reveal consumption and likely dispersal of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Image credit: Boast et al., doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0440.

Paleontologists have found ancient DNA and spores of truffle-like fungi, including at least one colorful species, inside two coprolites of the upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus), an extinct species of giant flightless bird that was endemic to New Zealand.

The post Extinct Moa Consumed Colorful Truffle-Like Fungi, Scientists Say appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

 Paleontologists have found ancient DNA and spores of truffle-like fungi, including at least one colorful species, inside two coprolites of the upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus), an extinct species of giant flightless bird that was endemic to New Zealand.
The post Extinct Moa Consumed Colorful Truffle-Like Fungi, Scientists Say appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News. Biology, Paleontology, Bird, Coprolite, Dinornithiformes, DNA, Feces, Fungi, Fungus, Megalapteryx, Megalapteryx didinus, Moa, New Zealand, Spore, Truffle, Upland moa Sci.News: Breaking Science News

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