<i>Prototaxites</i> fossils are structurally and chemically distinct from extinct and extant Fungi

<i>Prototaxites</i> was the first giant organism to live on the terrestrial surface, represented by columnar fossils of up to eight meters from the Early Devonian. However, its systematic affinity has been debated for over 165 years. There are now two remaining viable hypotheses: <i>Prototaxites</i> was either a fungus, or a member of an entirely extinct lineage. Here, we investigate the affinity of <i>Prototaxites</i> by contrasting its organization and molecular composition with that of Fungi. We report that fossils of <i>Prototaxites taiti</i> from the 407-million-year-old Rhynie chert were chemically distinct from contemporaneous Fungi and structurally distinct from all known Fungi. This finding casts doubt upon the fungal affinity of <i>Prototaxites</i>, instead suggesting that this enigmatic organism is best assigned to an entirely extinct eukaryotic lineage.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2026-01-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aec6277
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
43.71

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article

Prototaxites fossils are structurally and chemically distinct from extinct and extant Fungi

Seán F. Jordan, Laetitia Pichevin, Alexander J. Hetherington, Matthew Humpage et al.
1 citations
Science Advances
Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
43.71
article

Prototaxites fossils are structurally and chemically distinct from extinct and extant Fungi

Seán F. Jordan, Laetitia Pichevin, Alexander J. Hetherington, Matthew Humpage, Michael Krings, Corentin Loron, Martin Brasier, Laura Cooper, Niall Rodgers, Andrei V. Gromov, Hendrik Vondracek, Sean McMahon, Ruaridh Alexander, Edwin Rodriguez Dzul
article en
1 citations

Abstract

<i>Prototaxites</i> was the first giant organism to live on the terrestrial surface, represented by columnar fossils of up to eight meters from the Early Devonian. However, its systematic affinity has been debated for over 165 years. There are now two remaining viable hypotheses: <i>Prototaxites</i> was either a fungus, or a member of an entirely extinct lineage. Here, we investigate the affinity of <i>Prototaxites</i> by contrasting its organization and molecular composition with that of Fungi. We report that fossils of <i>Prototaxites taiti</i> from the 407-million-year-old Rhynie chert were chemically distinct from contemporaneous Fungi and structurally distinct from all known Fungi. This finding casts doubt upon the fungal affinity of <i>Prototaxites</i>, instead suggesting that this enigmatic organism is best assigned to an entirely extinct eukaryotic lineage.

Science AdvancesVol. 12(4)
National Museums Scotland (GB), Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (GB), University of Aberdeen (GB), Diamond Light Source (GB), NHS Highland (GB), Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (DE), Dublin City University (IE), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE), University of Edinburgh (GB)
University College Dublin
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
43.71
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