In 2025, a Brazilian expedition to Antarctica led to the discovery of at least four new mushroom species.
This marks the first time a Brazilian research group has made such findings on the icy continent.
The research was conducted by scientists from the Federal University of Pampa (Unipampa) and published in the scientific journal Mycological Progress in June 2025.
The four new species belong to the Omphalina genus, within the Omphalinaceae family.
They are named Omphalina deschampsiana, Omphalina ichayoi, Omphalina frigida, and Omphalina schaeferi.
The collections were made on Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, in the South Shetland Islands archipelago.
The research team spent a month in Antarctica, collecting samples that were later analyzed in Brazil.
The study is conducted in partnership with the Federal University of Viçosa, Minas Gerais.
The research aims to analyze which macroscopic fungal species occur in Antarctica, focusing on their genetic adaptations to the cold.
The findings highlight how life adapts to survive in extreme conditions, such as low soil nutrients, extreme cold, and high solar radiation.
The researchers are also concerned about the impact of climate change on these species, as warming could lead to the emergence of invasive species.
The Unipampa's work with fungi in Antarctica began in the 1980s with professors Jair Putzke and Antônio Batista Pereira.