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Bridgeoporus kanadii is a newly discovered species of fungus found in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India.

• It has exceptionally large fruiting bodies that can hold the weight of a person, with some measuring over three meters in radius.
• The fungus was named in honor of Indian mycologist Kanad Das for his contributions to Indian macrofungi.
• It belongs to the genus Bridgeoporus, with its closest known relative being Bridgeoporus nobilissimus from North America, which has fruiting bodies up to 1.5 meters—half the size of B. kanadii.
• The fungus primarily grows on dead fir trees and plays a vital ecological role by decomposing dead wood, recycling nutrients, and supporting forest regeneration.
• Though massive and visually striking, Bridgeoporus kanadii is inedible and has no direct economic use.

The discovery highlights the rich, yet underexplored, fungal biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh and emphasizes the importance of fungal species in forest ecosystems.

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