New Fungal Species Found With Record-Size Bodies
The newly identified D. rex provides evidence of how fungi adapted to dead wood accumulation after the dinosaur extinction.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Life Sciences
Researchers have identified a new fungal species, D. rex, which holds the record for the largest vertical fruiting bodies of any known ascomycete. This discovery, which also establishes the new fungal family Dianjunaceae, was confirmed through genetic and morphological analysis.
Why it matters
The discovery offers new insights into how decomposing fungi adapted to the massive influx of dead wood following the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. This evolution reflects the long-term ecological impact of mass extinction events on fungal diversification.
D. rex, which belongs to the order Xylariales, produces fruiting bodies measuring 50 centimeters (19.7 inches) and weighing 2.2 kilograms (4.9 pounds). This size exceeds that of all other species within the ascomycete group, which currently accounts for 75 percent of all described fungi.
The players
Frontiers In Fungal Biology
A peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes research on the genetics, ecology, and morphology of fungal species.
The details
The research team confirmed the classification of D. rex and the new family Dianjunaceae using a combination of morphological comparison and genetic analysis. As an ascomycete—a phylum of fungi that produce spores in a microscopic sac-like structure—D. rex releases spores from these exceptionally tall fruiting bodies, which are the specialized reproductive structures of the fungus.
Timeline
65 million years ago: The extinction of T. rex provided the dead wood influx that enabled D. rex to evolve.
Present: D. rex fruiting bodies remain observable in East Asian forests.
The Tech Race
The identification of the Dianjunaceae family marks a significant expansion in the known taxonomy of the Xylariales order. It provides a new reference point for researchers studying how wood-decaying fungi occupied niche spaces following the K-Pg extinction event.
This discovery is a fundamental scientific finding and does not currently alter industrial or consumer workflows. Researchers in forest ecology and fungal biology may use these findings to better understand carbon cycling and decomposition rates in forested regions.
The takeaway
The discovery of D. rex highlights how prehistoric mass extinctions fundamentally reshaped the fungal kingdom to manage massive increases in organic debris. Scientists can monitor future phylogenetic studies to see if other members of the Dianjunaceae family are identified in different temperate forests.
Further reading
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