Jakarta –
Speaking of the largest living creature on earth, maybe detikers will point to a blue whale. Indeed, the invincible blue whale being the largest animal on earth.
Moreover, the Antarctic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), which is the largest animal in the world, can weigh up to 400,000 pounds (about 181,436 kg), or the equivalent of 33 elephants and almost 30 meters in length, as previously reported by detikedu.
However, in this case the context is different. It turns out that the blue whale pales in comparison to the largest life form on earth for this one plant.
He is a giant mushroom from Oregon, United States. Interesting right? Here’s the full explanation.
The Giant Mushroom Is The Largest Living Thing on Earth
Launched via the page DiscoveryWednesday (8/2/2023) giant mushrooms are organisms mold a single species found in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, USA.
This fungus belongs to a species known as Armillaria Ostoyae. So big, giant mushrooms can grow in an area of three and a half square miles or 9 square kilometers.
Even though it is large, it turns out that this mushroom is not easy to find. Because almost all of the mushrooms are underground for most of the year.
If you want to see it, detikers have to wait for their time to reproduce so that giant mushrooms appear on the ground. Bak shy when it appears, the part that might be seen is the ‘mushroom hood’.
The mushroom cap that appears above the ground is part of the reproductive organs for many mushrooms, including the Oregon giant mushroom. That part will ‘peek’ above the ground and enlarge when the time comes.
To see the giant mushroom in its entirety, detikers have to dig into the ground until they see a network of interconnected fibers. This tissue is known as the ‘mycelium’.
The mycelium is the main body part of the fungus which grows by consuming nutrients from the soil. When it’s time, the mycelium will rot and die in the soil too.
But, the mycelium in giant mushrooms is a different matter. With its large size, the mycelium of the giant mushroom can feed on soil nutrients from one forest area for itself.
Scientists believe the giant mushroom is so large because it survives by digesting nutrients from tree roots.
As a result, many trees that grow around the path of the giant mushroom may die due to loss of nutrients.
In contrast to trees that die because they are taken for nutrients, giant mushrooms can survive for nearly 10,000 years. They will be able to reproduce and live life as a giant mushroom that rules the area.
Giant Mushroom vs Blue Whale
The previously mentioned blue whale pales in comparison to the largest life form on earth. Because basically, the blue whale is only big in terms of body weight.
The Antarctic Blue Whale can weigh up to 181.436 kg. According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), during the winter season, the Antarctic blue whale will consume around 3,599 kg of krill per day.
In terms of weight, of course, the giant mushroom cannot be compared to the blue whale. However, the stamp of the largest living creature on earth can also be measured in terms of its life form.
Previously described in the process of life, the giant Oregon mushroom can survive 10,000 years. Meanwhile, blue whales reported via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries website, the average age of blue whales is around 80-90 years, which is certainly much less than giant mushrooms.
That’s the reason why mold the Oregon giant can be called the largest living creature on earth.
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