Troglomyces twitteri Santam., Enghoff & Reboleira, 2020

Santamaria, Sergi, Enghoff, Henrik & Reboleira, Ana Sofia, 2020, The first Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniomycetes) from an American millipede, discovered through social media, MycoKeys 67, pp. 45-53 : 45

Troglomyces twitteri Santam., Enghoff & Reboleira sp. nov. Figure 2

Diagnosis.

Septa II-III and II-VI approximately at the same level. Dorsal and ventral margin of cell II of equal to subequal height, in contrast to all other Troglomyces , such that cell II is not adnate to either cell VI or the perithecium. Primary appendage branched. Perithecial apex bearing four slightly protruding lips, one of them being longer.

Types.

Holotype: USA, Georgia, Peach County, Fort Valley, 25 Feb 1984, Jerry A. Payne leg., "Leaf litter in hardwood forest", on Cambala annulata , RL Hoffman 1984 det. (host: MNHN GA-003-5, slide: C-F-95157, deposited at NHMD). Paratypes: Same data as the holotype (host: MNHN GA003, slides: GA003-1, GA003-2, GA003-3, GA003-4, deposited at MNHN); USA, North Carolina, Swain Co., Smokemont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 10 Aug 1981, H. Enghoff & R.M. Shelley leg., on Cambala hubrichti Hoffman, H. Enghoff det. (host: NHMD 621689, slides: C-F-95156, C-F-95155, C-F-95154, C-F-95153, deposited at NHMD).

Description.

Thallus hyaline, except for the blackened foot. Basal cell of the receptacle (I) about twice as long as broad, enlarged distally. Suprabasal cell of the receptacle (II) pentagonal, isodiametric, up to 1.5 times as long as broad, margins parallel to somewhat broadened distally. Septa II-III and II-VI variably oblique, located approximately at the same level. Septum II-VI slightly longer than II-III. Cell III very narrow, up to 8 times longer than broad; adnate to the perithecium along half or three quarters of the latter’s length. Primary appendage branched above the first or, more frequently, the second cell, into several simple or once ramified branches; surpassing the perithecial apex. Basal and suprabasal cells of appendage similar in size and shape; about two times as long as broad. Primary septum (Fig. 2C , “a”) slightly constricted and strongly oblique. Only one antheridium has been seen in an immature thallus, as a simple phialid on a branch of the primary appendages (Fig. 2G , “an”). Perithecial stalk cell (VI) very inconspicuous, strongly flattened (Fig. 2B , 2F , “VI”). Perithecium ovoidal, broadest at the middle or third basal part, gradually tapering upwards. Apex bearing four not quite protruding lips, one of them slightly longer (Fig. 2E , arrow). A small tooth-like outgrowth on the outer side near the apex (Fig. 2F , arrow).

Measurements.

Length from foot to apex of perithecium 81-129 µm. Perithecium (including basal cells) 45-66 × 14-23 µm. Appendage maximum length if undamaged, from primary septum 61-76 µm.

Etymology.

Named after the social media platform Twitter, where it was observed for the first time.

Figures

Figure 2. Troglomyces twitteri Santam., Enghoff & Reboleira, sp. nov. A-D mature thalli with labelling of cells and other elements in B, C E, F detail of perithecium at two focusing levels to show the slightly longer lip (E, arrow), and tooth-like outgrowth (F, arrow). In Fig. F, cell VI is labelled G detail of an immature thallus showing the trichogyne (tr) and the antheridium (an). Scale bars: 50 µm (A-D), 25 µm (E-G). Photographs from: slides GA 003 - 1 (A, D), GA 003 - 2 (E-G), and C-F- 95157 (B, C).