CLASSIFICATION OF ANAEROBIC GUT FUNGI FROM HERBIVORES WITH EMPHASIS ON RUMEN FUNGI FROM MALAYSIA

Descriptive accounts and keys are given for 14 species in five genera of obligately anaerobic fungi found in the gut of herbivores. The desc riptions are based entirely on thallus morphology as seen in the light microscope to permit the functional identification of genera and spec ies. It is proposed to place Neocallimastix patriciarum and N. variabi lis in synonymy with N. frontalis, and the status of N. hurleyensis as a distinct species is questioned. Two species of Orpinomyces are reco gnised: O. joyonii and O. intercalaris. Anaeromyces mucronatus and A. elegans are recognised, but the status of A. elegans is considered unc ertain. The genus Ruminomyces is synonymous with Anaeromyces. Six spec ies of Piromyces are included: P. communis, P. mae, P. dumbonica, P. r hizinflatus, P. minutus and P. spiralis. Caecomyces (syn. Sphaeromonas ) comprises two species: C. equi and C. communis, but the status of C. equi is questioned. The present and future state of the taxonomy is d iscussed.