This is the largest living being on Earth, it is more than 1900 years old and it measures 3.8 km

Our planet is really very curious, is not it? There are thousands of species of organisms living on and also down from Earth. With each passing day scientists discover new things and open our eyes even more. When thinking about animals for example, there may even be an estimated number of how many species are still alive, but it is very difficult for us to ever have the exact number. They are animals of all colors, sizes and habitats.

But have you ever stopped to think about which is the largest living thing in the world? Just so you can have a "little" idea, it measures 3.8 kilometers long and inhabits our planet for more than 1900 years ... Yes, that's right! It is a parasitic fungus, and many people find it delicious. If you're thinking we're talking about mushrooms, you got it right. There is a genus of them called Armillaria, popularly known as "honey mushroom" and is located in Blue Montains, in the American state of Oregon.



There are several species of the genus and they usually colonize and kill trees that generate firewood, which causes many people to hate them. Surely you must have seen one or another mushroom, whether in tree trunks or even in the ground, but the fact is that this visible part is very small compared to the rest of its structure that lies under the ground.

It looks a lot like tree roots, and they spread over great distances in search of nutrients and other parasitic organisms. The incredible thing is that no one had ever realized that these structures were so large, and it was only recently that scientists discovered their ability.


In 1998, they observed that trees in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon were dying without any explanation hitherto known and that was where the US Forest Service decided to take action. They sent a team to the site, and took aerial photos of the affected area, not to mention sampling the roots of the trees that were dead or dying. Surprisingly, of the 112 samples collected, 108 showed signs that they had been infected by a species of Armillaria, specifically the solidipes, which is the largest on the planet.




According to the surveys, it covers an area of approximately 9.6 km², and presents the glorious 3.8 km extension, as stated above. They discovered that this is only possible because, when genetically identical solidipes meet, they are able to fuse, forming a new fungus and this makes their colonies immense. 61 of the studied trees were killed by the same clone colony. Impressive, is not it?

Until 1992, the largest living place was also a fungus of the same species that had been found in Washington, but covered an area of only 6.5 km². Much smaller than the one recently discovered.

And then guys, what did you guys think? Tell us in the comments!