Kota Kinabalu: Three secondary school students have discovered a rare coral fungus, Phaeoclavulina cokeri, at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Hill, here, recently.
UMS said in a statement Monday that the discovery by Muhammad Aqil Fahmi Mahadimenakbar from Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tebobon, Muhammad Daniel Ashraff Abdullah (SMK Likas) and Cleasha Joiee Alfius from Sekolah Menengah (SM) All Saint, represented a significant breakthrough in the study of fungi as it was a rare recorded instance of the species in this region.
“This new finding of Phaeoclavulina cokeri in Sabah is particularly significant as it is more commonly found in North America, China, India and other parts of Southeast Asia.
“The last recorded sighting of this species in the region was over 60 years ago. The discovery has sparked excitement among researchers and highlights the potential for further exploration of Sabah’s rich fungal diversity,” the university said.
The discovery was made during the Friends of BORNEENSIS (FOB 2024) programme, an initiative that emphasises on hands-on learning about biodiversity, organised by UMS’ Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (IBTP).
Other students in the programme, Sean Ho Min Jun (SM Lok Yuk Kota Kinabalu), Eory Glory Dharius (SK Rungus) and Isaac Sin Sang (SMK Likas) also encountered another rare species: Marasmius elegans, commonly known as the velvet parachute fungus, the university added.
IBTP Director Assoc Prof Dr Fiffy Hanisdah Saikim shared that these discoveries not only enriched their understanding of fungal diversity in Sabah but also emphasised the untapped potential that exists in local forests.
