MYCOPHAGY AMONG AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS

This review provides a synthesis, from published and unpublished sourc es, of records of mycophagy (fungus-feeding) by Australian mammals. My cophagy is shown to be widespread among Australian mammals, parallelin g the previously well-documented situation in North America. Mycophagy appears to be most prevalent within the Potoroidae (rat-kangaroo fami ly) but has also been recorded for a variety of other mammals. Informa tion is presented on the classification, morphology and ecology of the fungi consumed, on the nutritional benefits (or otherwise) of mycopha gy, and on the role of mammals in spore dispersal. Fungi whose sporoca rps are hypogeal (truffles, false-truffles and sporocarpic Endogonacea e) and which enter into mycorrhizal relationships with plants predomin ate among the species recorded in mammal diets.