Termites have grown mushrooms 7 million years ago

An excavated fossil mound in the Djurab (Chad) desert - (Photo: HTV)

To feed themselves, some termite species grow mushrooms in their nests. They create termites for fungi to grow. After discovering fossilized mushrooms in Chad, French researchers claim that this symbiosis has existed for at least 7 million years.

The mounds in the termite nest are made of wood and the shrub is very easy to break. Termites disintegrate very quickly when they are removed, so it is difficult to preserve them over time. However, researchers from the Anthropological Mission of France and Chad have discovered many termite mounds in the Djurab desert, where excavation of the oldest human fossil bone named Tournai is about 6-7 million years old.

When compared with current termites, researchers at the CNRS Institute claim that these are mounds built by termites grown 7 million years ago.

According to French researcher Philippe Duringer and colleagues, the arid climate has fossilized these fragile mounds.

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