A strange mushroom that looks like a zombie's hand has been found in abundance in an Australian national park , having almost been wiped out in its traditional habitats. The endangered fungus has been discovered by a group of 16 mass naturalists on the French island of Victoria.
Its name is Hypocreopsis amplectens and it is often found in low-density areas in mainland Australia, where it has become nearly extinct due to fire and human encroachment.
According to naturalist Michael Amor, it is the only population of this rare fungus found within a protected national park, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
A rarity
This fungus has only been seen at seven sites on the planet, some of which can no longer be found, according to the IUCN. They have a pinkish brown color and a texture that has been compared to 'zombie fingers'. They feed on other fungi that decompose wood.
Thanks to its strange shape, it is flexible enough to grow over curves or crevices and cope with vicissitudes such as cracking or bending.
Now, thanks to this new discovery, researchers are hopeful that it will survive into the future.
