Cryptandromyces cryptophagi Santam., 2021

Santamaria, Sergi & Pedersen, Jan, 2021, Laboulbeniomycetes (Fungi, Ascomycota) of Denmark, European Journal of Taxonomy 781, pp. 1-425 : 228-229

Cryptandromyces cryptophagi Santam. sp. nov.

MB#840597

Fig. 49D–H

Diagnosis

Cell I with a dorsal blackish-brown stripe. Cell VII inflated, very large, bigger than cell VI.

Etymology

The species epithet is based on the host genus Cryptophagus .

Type material

Holotype DENMARK – Nordøstsjaelland (NEZ) • Stenholtsvang ; 55°57.365′ N, 12°21.254′ E; UC30; on Cryptophagus distinguendus Sturm, 1845 (Col. Cryptophagidae ); 7 Apr. 2018; JP 1025; JP det.; ZMUC C-F-123532 .

Isotype DENMARK • same data as holotype; ZMUC C-F-123533 , C-F-123534 , C-F-123535 .

Description

Thallus hyaline, except for the darkened foot and part of cell I. Basal cell of receptacle (I) obconical, with a pointed hyaline beak at base ( Fig. 49E , arrow), about twice longer than broad, dorsally tinged with a dark brown stripe as a prolongation of the foot pigmentation ( Fig. 49E , *). Suprabasal cell of receptacle (II) isodiametric to slightly broader than long. Cell III slightly longer than broad, above cell II and separated from it by an oblique septum; sometimes may be subdivided ( Fig. 49E , III and III’; Fig. 49F , III).

Primary appendage unbranched, consisting of up to eight subequal cells, longer and narrowing towards the apex. Antheridia 1(–3) sessile, simple, bottle-shaped, borne on the inner side of the lower cells of the appendage ( Fig. 49G–F , an), appearing deteriorated in mature thalli ( Fig. 49E , an).

Perithecial stalk cell (VI) trapezoidal, broader than long. Cell VII very large, bigger than cell VI, with a strongly convex outer margin. Perithecium ovoidal, large, reaching half of the length of the thallus. Perithecial tip broad, with the four apical wall cells protruding like lips through a collar-like structure ( Fig. 49D , arrows). Trichogyne flexuous ( Fig. 49G–H , tr).

Length from foot to apex of perithecium 70–79 µm. Perithecium (not including the basal cells) 39–49 × 19–25 µm. Maximum length of primary appendage (from primary septum, when undamaged) 55 µm.

Thalli were found on the elytra of the host. The hosts were sifted from mouldy hay with many mice-nests and from moist moss and mouldy spruce needles on sun-exposed forest floor.

Remarks

This is the first species of the genus described on a beetle belonging to Cryptophagidae . It appears to be morphologically related to some species on Pselaphinae (Col. Staphylinidae ) like C. elegans and C. bryaxidis , but may be distinguished from them by the large, protruding cell VII, and the dark brown suffusion that extends along the outer margin of cell I. Antheridium location is similar to the arrangement in C. elegans , but in this species a solitary, stout antheridium is borne by the appendage basal cell, whereas in C. cryptophagi sp. nov. it is found on the suprabasal cell, even in cells above, becoming almost undetectable due to deterioration in the older thalli.

Lips protruding through a break near the perithecial apex is a characteristic that has been described for species of Troglomyces . This feature was defined as a collar-like structure or as a scar resulting from some kind of breakdown at the point where the trichogyne was attached, in the perithecial top throughout thallus development ( Enghoff & Santamaria 2015).

Figures

Fig. 49. Cryptandromyces spp. A–C. C. bryaxidis T.Majewski. Mature thalli. In C, arrows point to small teeth below the conical perithecial tip. – D–H. C. cryptophagi Santam. sp. nov. D. Mature thallus with labelled cells VI, VII, m, n’, and two vertical rows of perithecial wall cells (w n); arrows point to the scar through which the lips emerge. E. Mature thallus with labelling of cells I, II, III, III’, VI, VII, m, primary septum (a), and antheridium (an); arrow points to the acute hyaline beak at the base of foot, * points to dark brown stripe on cell I.F. Mature thallus showing cell III. G–H. Immature thalli in detail at two focus levels to show antheridia (an), and trichogyne (tr). Scale bars: 20 µm. Photographs from slides ZMUC C-F-123224 (A–C), ZMUC C-F-123532 (D–H) (holotype).