''Paleopyrenomycites'' is a

Devonian The Devonian ( ) is a period (geology), geologic period and system (stratigraphy), system of the Paleozoic era (geology), era during the Phanerozoic eon (geology), eon, spanning 60.3 million years from the end of the preceding Silurian per ...

genus of

fungus A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

of uncertain

phylogenetic In biology, phylogenetics () is the study of the evolutionary history of life using observable characteristics of organisms (or genes), which is known as phylogenetic inference. It infers the relationship among organisms based on empirical dat ...

affinity within the

Pezizomycotina Pezizomycotina is the largest subdivision of Ascomycota, containing the filamentous ascomycetes and most lichenized fungi. It is more or less synonymous with the older taxon Euascomycota. These fungi reproduce by fission rather than budding. Thi ...

total group, known from the

Rhynie chert The Rhynie chert is a Lower Devonian Sedimentary rock, sedimentary deposit exhibiting extraordinary fossil detail or completeness (a Lagerstätte). It is exposed near the village of Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; a second unit, the Windyfield ...

History

Paleopyrenomycites date back over 400 million years to the Early Devonian period, and represent one of the oldest known ascomycetes. Their discovery within the Rhynie chert provides critical evidence for the early diversification of fungi, highlighting their ecological roles in decomposition. {{Taxonbar, from=Q16987177 Ascomycota Prehistoric fungi Pragian life