Behold the $200,000 Fungus

I'll admit I'm kind of fascinated by fungi. Neither plant nor animal, they can be delicious, disgusting, or downright deadly. (Some species are even rather pretty.) But the fungus that's always interested me the most is the truffle.

Though they often resemble deformed potatoes, truffles are one of the world's most sought after delicacies. A few thin slices can turn an average meal into a gourmet experience. (And add several zeros to your bill.) But high-quality truffles are difficult to find. They grow underground near the roots of deciduous trees. And anyone who intends to gather them must first seek assistance from the animal community.

Traditionally, truffle hunters have relied on pigs to sniff out the fungi. But pigs have an unfortunate habit of gobbling up all the truffles they find. So many have turned to dogs, which aren't always as effective as truffle hogs but show far more self-discipline.

In fact a dog named Rocco was responsible for sniffing out the enormous truffle shown above--one of the biggest discovered in more than half a century. It was more than two and a half feet underground, near oak tree outside of Pisa, Italy. It's expected to sell for more than $200,000. I just hope Rocco gets his cut of the profits.

Read more here.

(Below: A truffle hunt in progress.)