The first fossil fungus gardens of Isoptera: oldest evidence of symbiotic termite fungiculture (Miocene, Chad basin) |
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Authors: | Philippe Duringer Mathieu Schuster Jorge F Genise Andossa Likius Hassan Taisso Mackaye Patrick Vignaud Michel Brunet |
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Institution: | Université Louis Pasteur (ULP), Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre (EOST), Centre de Géochimie de la Surface CNRS UMR 7517, 1 rue Blessig, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France. duringer@illite.u-strasbg.fr |
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Abstract: | Higher termites of the subfamily Macrotermitinae (fungus-growing termites) are known to build fungus gardens where a symbiotic fungus (Termitomyces sp.) is cultivated. The fungus grows on a substrate called fungus comb, a structure built with the termites’ own faeces. Here we present the first fossil fungus combs ever found in the world. They were extracted from 7-million-year-old continental sandstone (Chad basin). Fossilized fungus combs have an ovoid morphology with a more or less flattened concave base and a characteristic general alveolar aspect. Under lens, they display a typical millimetre-scale pelletal structure. The latter, as well as the general shape and alveolar aspect, are similar to the morphology of fungus combs from extant fungus-growing termites. |
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Keywords: | Fossil fungus Termite fungiculture Symbiotic Isoptera Fungus gardens |
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