Ecology & Biology

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Study

Living Fungi Found Tunneling Through Dinosaur Fossils

Living Fungi Found Tunneling Through Dinosaur Fossils

What they found

Fungal hyphae and fungus-eating nematodes were found living inside Triceratops and Edmontosaurus fossil bones.

Fungal hyphae and fungus-eating nematodes were found living inside Triceratops and Edmontosaurus fossil bones.

How solid is it?

Field study

Field study

Field/ecology

Field/ecology

Evidence ladder: Lab dish → Animal → Early human → Strong human. Reviews summarize earlier research.

At a glance

Latin name

Published in

Oxford Academic

Oxford Academic

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Fungi in Dinosaur Bones

Fungi in Dinosaur Bones

Scientists discovered fungal hyphae thriving inside fossilized bones from Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, along with nematodes that feed on the fungi. These hardy fungi tunneled through mineralized bone, revealing ancient micro-ecosystems and showing that even fossilized remains can support life. The fungi appeared to prefer areas near old blood vessel canals, and their presence adds new layers to our understanding of microbial resilience across deep time.

Scientists discovered fungal hyphae thriving inside fossilized bones from Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, along with nematodes that feed on the fungi. These hardy fungi tunneled through mineralized bone, revealing ancient micro-ecosystems and showing that even fossilized remains can support life. The fungi appeared to prefer areas near old blood vessel canals, and their presence adds new layers to our understanding of microbial resilience across deep time.

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