The new marine fungus – Annabella australiensis – is the latest of only 11 marine fungi to be identified in Australia – a hugely neglected area of biodiversity.

Fungi are an essential, ubiquitous, and very poorly understood component of marine ecosystems. Other than bacteria, fungi are the only organisms that can degrade dead wood, leaves, roots and other organic matter containing cellulose and lignin. Marine fungi are found from the deepest seafloors to coral reefs and intertidal zones. But they are amongst the least-explored groups of marine organisms.

Read more about this story from Taxonomy Australia here.