Epitypification and re-description of the zombie-ant fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (Ophiocordycipitaceae)

H. C. Evans, J. P.M. Araújo, V. R. Halfeld, D. P. Hughes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The type of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) is based on an immature specimen collected on an ant in Brazil. The host was identified initially as a leaf-cutting ant (Atta cephalotes, Attini, Myrmicinae). However, a critical examination of the original illustration reveals that the host is the golden carpenter ant, Camponotus sericeiventris (Camponotini, Formicinae). Because the holotype is no longer extant and the original diagnosis lacks critical taxonomic information - specifically, on ascus and ascospore morphology - a new type from Minas Gerais State of south-east Brazil is designated herein. A re-description of the fungus is provided and a new phylogenetic tree of the O. unilateralis clade is presented. It is predicted that many more species of zombieant fungi remain to be delimited within the O. unilateralis complex worldwide, on ants of the tribe Camponotini.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13-22
Number of pages10
JournalFungal Systematics and Evolution
Volume1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)

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