I don't know what this is! I found it on the floor of the sub tropical rain forest next to a river just outside Whangerei in New Zealand. My guess was some kind of fungus - any ideas?
see the pic here:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1322/1324834842_7489452d68.jpg
2007-09-04 11:42:16 · 7 answers · asked by boardxs 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
it was soft to the touch covered with some kind of mucus type substance, when attempting to squash it had some elasticicy and returned to its original form. there was no obvious smell, it certainly wasn't alive in the animal sense. I found it on a path so likely that it was uncovered or moved in smeway by another person (or animal).
sorry, I didn't hang around as I was alone and it freaked me out some - I checked for Aliens but I think the Predators in the trees kept them at bay ;)
2007-09-04 12:04:57 · update #1
It's Ileodictyon cibarium, basket fungus, found in Australia/NZ; could also be I. gracile.
A saprophytic fungus. Fungi are cool.
2007-09-04 16:01:34 · answer #1 · answered by candy2mercy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unusual yes, but you haven't give us enough data.
Is it soft, did you have to pull it out of the ground or just pick it up? Is it spongy, does it have an oder; there is whole lot more we need to make a diagnosis.
Alien; highly doubtful we don't know of any life expect on earth, but you haven't given me anything to rule it out.
Animal: doubtful, it could be a colony organism, but I don't see any feet, any mouths or any way to eliminate waste. Does it move or make sounds on its own? Probably not so it is probably not an animal, but you haven't told us enough. However, omitting of something as clear as a sound or movement makes me think it is not an animal.
Mineral: How did it form, how could it form, did you find it in a cave? No, it was in a rain forest. It is hard, is it a crystal structure or is it soft? If it is hard then it could be some sort of crystal. Maybe something formed inside of a rock and then later removed. A crystal exposed by erosion might have done it. But, the shape is fairly irregular so it is probably not a crystal therefore I highly doubt it is a mineral.
Plant: Well the most common thing in a rain forest is life and the most common forms of life there are plants so that is a pretty safe guess. I agree with you it looks like an odd form or fungus. But, being half a world away in the US it is hard for me to say. I have never seen anything like it before and my lack of familiarity with New Zealand means I can't rule out fungus or mold or another plant form.
Most likely it is a fungus; mold is too small, and fungi can grow into shapes like mushrooms. As to how it formed I can't say. It could have been wrapped around a rock or something circular. It could grow that way naturally. The best thing to do is to ask someone who lives in the region. Native guides are always invaluable when exploring.
2007-09-04 11:55:23 · answer #2 · answered by Dan S 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yes, it is a fungus. I have seen them in a book before. I will try to find out the species name on Google!
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It looks like it's in the Genus Clathrus. Here is the Google Images entry for Clathrus:
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&rlz=1T4HPEB_en-GBGB212GB213&q=clathrus&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi
Could be Clathrus chrysomycelinus
Fungi in this genus are commonly called 'cage fungi' or 'lattice fungi'.
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I found the genus by googling 'cage fungus brazil'.
2007-09-04 14:14:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Vegetable, it looks like a Parsnip.
2016-05-21 05:40:39 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my guess would also be a fungus of some kind
2007-09-04 11:45:42 · answer #5 · answered by omichels24 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont know what that is but it looks weird.
2007-09-04 11:45:48 · answer #6 · answered by mujerlatina@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wicked!!!!!!
not sure what it is, but wouldnt wanna hold it in my bare hands! ewwwwwwwwww
2007-09-04 11:50:31 · answer #7 · answered by lilmissinsanity 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋