Biology
Fungal Diversity
Quick fact
There are an estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million species of fungi, but only about 120,000 have been formally described. A single teaspoon of soil can contain thousands of fungal species.
Why this is interesting
You've probably eaten a mushroom or noticed mold on bread, but did you know that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants? How can such a diverse kingdom—from invisible molds to giant puffballs—shape entire ecosystems?