Scientists have identified a new giant prehistoric fungus species in China’s forests, named *Dianjunus rex* and described as “D-rex.” Researchers say it can form vertical fruiting bodies reaching up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) and weighing up to 2.2 kilograms (4.9 pounds), making it among the largest known fungi within the Ascomycota phylum. The species is estimated to date back about 65 million years.
The outlets place the discovery in the context of biodiversity in China’s southwestern region, particularly Yunnan. NDTV and Popular Science emphasize that the find shows how much of the natural world remains undocumented, especially in biodiversity hotspots. Phys.org focuses on the fungus’s distinguishing biological features and its lineage, noting that the organism “challenges” current understanding of how large fungi can become and where such large forms fit within fungal evolutionary history.
