Jump to content

Aquascypha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aquascypha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Division:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Aquascypha

D.A.Reid (1965)
Type species
Aquascypha hydrophora
(Berk.) D.A.Reid (1965)

Aquascypha is a fungal genus in the family Meruliaceae. It is a monotypic genus, containing the single species Aquascypha hydrophora, found in Central and South America. This species forms cup-like structures with dimensions of 2.7 to 14.9 cm (1.1 to 5.9 in) (average 9.2 cm (3.6 in)) and heights of 6.1 to 18 cm (2.4 to 7.1 in) (average 16.3 cm (6.4 in)).[1] Study of this fungus in the Amazon rainforest showed that on average, these cups hold 35 millitres of water, in addition to organic matter such as leaves, flowers and fruits that fall from trees;[1] this provides an ideal environment for various insect species (especially filter-feeding species like mosquitoes) to breed.[1][2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Ferreira, R.L.; Oliveira, A.F.; Pereira, E.S.; Hamada, N. (2001). "Occurrence of larval Culicidae (Diptera) in water retained in Aquascypha hydrophora (Fungus: Stereaceae) in central Amazonia, Brazil". Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. 96 (8): 1165–7. doi:10.1590/s0074-02762001000800023. PMID 11784940.
  2. ^ Serpa-Filho, Arlindo; Ferreira, Ruth Leila Meneze; Barbosa, Ulysses Carvalho (2007). "Occurrence of Polypedilum (Tripodura) amataura Bidawid-Kafka, 1996 (Diptera; Chironomidae) in Aquascypha hydrophora (Berk.) Reid (Fungi; Stereaceae), with description of the pupae in the Central Amazonian, Brazil". Acta Amazonica. 37 (1): 151–56. doi:10.1590/s0044-59672007000100020.