Mycena chlorophos

21.11.2023

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Why in the news?

Recently a team of researchers and the forest department has found a rare bioluminescent mushroom in the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary (KKWLS).

About Mycena Chlorophos:

• Mycena chlorophos is a species of agaric fungus in the family Mycenaceae.
• It was first described in 1860.
• This fungus is found in subtropical Asia, including India, Japan, Taiwan, Polynesia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Brazil.
• In the Bonin Islands it is called "green pepe".
• It is characterized by a pristine white disk with a shallow crater in its center and which emits a bright, green light in the dark.
• The cap of Mycena species is bell shaped and has a thin stem.
• It is a bioluminescent fungus.
• There are about 103 species of bioluminescent fungi in the world, of which seven are found in India.

What is bioluminescent?

• It is a natural phenomenon where living organisms emit light.
• This is caused by a biochemical reaction involving oxygen, luciferin, and the enzyme luciferase.
• It serves various purposes, such as attracting mates, prey and playing an important role in ecological balance by attracting insects for spore dispersal.

About Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Located in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, the sanctuary is situated at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.
• Seven rivers originate in this forest, including the famous Paharali and Thamirabarani rivers.
• Flora: The region represents southern thorn forests, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, semi-evergreen forests and evergreen hill shoals with grasslands.
• Fauna: It is home to reptiles like Indian bison, elephant, Nilgiri tahr, sambar deer, lion-tailed macaque and Indian rock python.

                                                                     Source:Down to earth