Hysterangium bonobo: a newly described truffle species that is eaten by bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Title
Hysterangium bonobo: a newly described truffle species that is eaten by bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Publication Date
2020-09-04
Author(s)
Elliott, Todd F
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9304-7040
Email: tellio20@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:tellio20
Georgiev, Alexander V
Lokkasola, Albert Lotana
Smith, Matthew E
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1080/00275514.2020.1790234
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/30674
Abstract
Many animals have been shown to eat fungi and most truffle-like fungi depend on animals for spore dispersal via mycophagy. Although these interactions are widespread, they are understudied in many habitats. In this study, we show that bonobos (Pan paniscus) forage and feed on an undescribed truffle species in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Based on morphological and molecular assessment of collections, we show that the species eaten by bonobos is a previously undescribed taxon described here as Hysterangium bonobo. This species is known in the local Bantu language (Bongando) as simbokilo and is used for baiting traps to catch several species of small mammals. Our findings highlight the need for further research into mycophagy and systematics of sequestrate fungi in Africa.
Link
Citation
Mycologia, 112(6), p. 1203-1211
ISSN
1557-2536
0027-5514
Start page
1203
End page
1211

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink