Unraveling the Mystery: Ancient Creature Defies the Tree of Life and Leaves Scientists Puzzled

A fascinating find from the ancient world may change how we see life on Earth. Scientists believe that the mysterious organism known as Prototaxites could belong to an entirely unknown branch of life. This ancient giant roamed the land between 420 million and 375 million years ago, during the Devonian period. It looked like a massive, branchless tree trunk, with some specimens towering up to 26 feet (8 meters) high and 3 feet (1 meter) wide.

Since its first discovery in 1843, there has been debate about whether Prototaxites was a plant, fungus, or even a type of algae. Initial studies from 2007 leaned towards the idea that it was a large fungus, as chemical analyses showed it fed on decaying matter, similar to how fungi behave today. However, new research suggests that Prototaxites might actually represent a completely new life-form, separate from fungi, plants, animals, and even protists.

A recent study published on March 17, 2025, lays out compelling evidence for this new idea, although it’s yet to undergo peer review. Researchers examined a species of Prototaxites called Prototaxites taiti, found in the well-preserved Rhynie chert in Scotland. Unlike other larger species, Prototaxites taiti was quite small, only a few inches tall, but it was still the largest of its kind in that area.

Interestingly, when the scientists examined its internal structure, they observed a network of tubes unlike any seen in modern fungi. These tubes branched off and interconnected in a unique way. They concluded that Prototaxites exhibited a different anatomy altogether, which diverges from what we know about fungi today. They suggested it belonged to a previously undiscovered lineage of life.

Moreover, while true fungi from the same period contained chitin, a major component of fungal cell walls, Prototaxites exhibited chemical signatures similar to lignin, which is found in plants. This suggests that Prototaxites had a different biological makeup than any fungi living today.

Professor Kevin Boyce from Stanford University, who contributed to earlier studies on Prototaxites, recognizes the significance of this new finding. He highlighted that recent phylogenetic information does not support Prototaxites being a fungus. Instead, it represents a unique experiment in multicellularity, one that does not descend from a common ancestor with any living organisms today.

Experts agree that more analysis and new fossil discoveries are needed to fully understand what Prototaxites was and what led to its extinction. Brett Summerell, an expert in plant pathology and fungi, expressed that this uncertainty adds an “air of mystery” to the organism’s identity, suggesting that these questions may remain until new fossils or analytical techniques come to light.

Prototaxites serves as a reminder of the complexity of life on Earth, showcasing how much we still have to learn about our planet’s history. For more on the study, you can check the paper published on bioRxiv here.

Source link