TY - JOUR

T1 - Hysterangium bonobo: A newly described truffle species that is eaten by bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo

AU - Elliott, Todd

AU - Georgiev, Alexander V.

AU - Lotana Lokasola, Albert

AU - Smith, Matthew

PY - 2020/11/1

Y1 - 2020/11/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - 1 new taxon

KW - African fungi

KW - Hysterangiales

KW - Phallomycetidae

KW - primate mycophagy

KW - truffle taxonomy

U2 - 10.1080/00275514.2020.1790234

DO - 10.1080/00275514.2020.1790234

M3 - Article

VL - 112

SP - 1203

EP - 1211

JO - Mycologia

JF - Mycologia

SN - 1557-2536

IS - 6

ER -