Cryptandromyces danicus Santam., 2021

Santamaria, Sergi & Pedersen, Jan, 2021, Laboulbeniomycetes (Fungi, Ascomycota) of Denmark, European Journal of Taxonomy 781, pp. 1-425 : 229-231

Cryptandromyces danicus Santam. sp. nov.

MB#840598

Fig. 50

Diagnosis

Perithecium with a strongly convex margin on one side and straight to concave in the opposite side; the apex with a small rounded protuberance representing a trichogyne stump.

Etymology

The species epithet is based on Denmark.

Type material

Holotype DENMARK – Lolland, Falster, Møn (LFM) • Engestofte; 54°45.767′ N, 11°33.506′ E; PF67; on Euconnus wetterhallii (Gyllenhal, 1813) (Col. Staphylinidae Scydmaeninae ); 9 May 1952; Johs. Andersen Dry0101; Johs. Andersen det.; ZMUC C-F-124167.

Isotype DENMARK • same locality and host as for holotype; 7 Jul. 1950; F. Larsen Dry0100; F. Larsen det.; ZMUC C-F-124166 .

Description

Thallus pale yellowish, shaded in the perithecial venter. Basal cell of receptacle (I) obconical, about twice longer than broad. Suprabasal cell of receptacle (II) pentagonal, broader than long, separated from cells III and VI by oblique septa. Cell III flattened, broader than long, triangular to trapezoidal in section ( Fig. 50A ).

Primary appendage unbranched, rather elongate but not exceeding the perithecial apex in length, consisting of up to seven cells gradually longer upwards, but not narrowing very distinctly. Antheridia unknown.

Perithecial stalk cell (VI) two to more times as long as broad, slightly constricted towards the lower middle height. Perithecial wall cell tiers w 1 and w 2 each approximately as long as the three above (w 3-5) all together ( Fig. 50E ). Perithecium fusiform to ovoidal, with posterior margin (the side with the appendage) straight to concave, and the opposite margin quite convex. Perithecial tip subacute, variably rounded, bearing a rather conspicuous trichogyne stump on the posterior side ( Fig. 50G , arrow), which may be seen when in side view as a slight rounded knob ( Fig. 50C–D , arrows).

Length from foot to apex of perithecium 86–89 µm. Perithecium (not including the basal cells) 50–60 × 19–28 µm. Maximum length of primary appendage (from primary septum, when undamaged) 52 µm.

Thalli were found on the elytra of the hosts. Nothing is known about the collecting circumstances of the hosts.

Remarks

Euconnus wetterhallii is a rarely collected ant-like stone beetle (Col. Staphylinidae Scydmaeninae ) which has been reported harbouring Stigmatomyces euconni F.Picard ( Picard 1917) . A simple observation of the figure published by Picard shows us that neither the appendage with its antheridia nor the perithecia with its spiny protuberance are anything like the fungus we found. The new species reasonably fits in the genus Cryptandromyces . As mentioned in the genus remarks above, ten species (including the new one described here) grow on beetles of Scydmaeninae . Cryptandromyces danicus sp. nov. may be compared with C. geniculatus Thaxt. , also reported on Euconnus (as Connophron ) from Argentina ( Thaxter 1912a) and China ( Shen & Ye 2006).Although the two species are similar, the perithecium in C. danicus sp. nov. does not have the strong “geniculate” shape driven by some of the perithecial basal cells (probably cell VII) in C. geniculatus .

Figures

Fig. 50. Cryptandromyces danicus Santam. sp. nov. A. Submature thallus showing cells I, II, III, VI. B. Primary appendage in detail. C–D. Detail in side view with rounded knob at perithecial apex (arrows). E–G. Mature perithecium in detail at three focusing levels (near, middle and far, respectively) to show perithecial wall cells (w n) and trichogyne scar (arrow). Scale bars: 20 µm. Photographs from slide ZMUC C-F-124167 (holotype).