Geotrichites glaesarius, a Conidial Fungus from Tertiary Dominican Amber

Abstract

Geotrichites glaesarius, a new fungal anamorph, is described from Dominican amber of late Oligocene or early Miocene age. A well-developed mycelium is present on the surface of an arachnid cadaver; hyphae are not present in the body cavity. Septate hyphae are either erect or decumbent, and extensively branched. Oblong arthroconidia are borne terminally on undifferentiated hyphae. Conidiogenesis appears to be of the holoarthric type with conidia sometimes joined by narrow connectives. The fungus is apparently saprophytic and resembles several modern moniliaceous fungi, particularly Geotrichum candidum.