📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Sławomir Maizner
Science
Scientists Discover New Mollisia Fungus Species in Sikkim Himalaya
✍️ GK Today
🗓 01 Nov 2026, 01:37 AM
👁 1
Researchers have identified a previously unknown species of the Mollisia genus in the high‑altitude regions of the Sikkim Himalaya, expanding the known biodiversity of the area.
A team of mycologists from the Indian Institute of Science announced the discovery of a new species of the fungal genus Mollisia in the Sikkim Himalaya.
The specimen was collected at an elevation of about 3,200 metres near the Zuluk pass, a remote area that has received little scientific attention.
Mollisia species are known for decomposing leaf litter and contributing to soil health. The new species, tentatively named Mollisia sikkimensis, displays distinct morphological traits that set it apart from its congeners.
The find highlights the rich yet underexplored fungal diversity of the Eastern Himalayas and may offer new avenues for ecological research and bioprospecting.
Researchers plan to publish the full description in the Journal of Mycological Research later this year.
The specimen was collected at an elevation of about 3,200 metres near the Zuluk pass, a remote area that has received little scientific attention.
Mollisia species are known for decomposing leaf litter and contributing to soil health. The new species, tentatively named Mollisia sikkimensis, displays distinct morphological traits that set it apart from its congeners.
The find highlights the rich yet underexplored fungal diversity of the Eastern Himalayas and may offer new avenues for ecological research and bioprospecting.
Researchers plan to publish the full description in the Journal of Mycological Research later this year.