To contribute to the knowledge of Mucorales (Zygomycota) in the northeastern of Brazil (Recife - Pernambuco State), a total of 120 samples of herbivorous dung have been collected monthly from June 1997 to May 1998. The dung was produced by the following animals: Bison bonasus H. Smith, Bos indicus L., Bubalus bubalis H. Smith, Capra hircus L., Oryctolagus cuniculus Lilljeborg, Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, Taurotragus oryx Wagner, Equus caballus L., Ovis aries L. and Mazama gouazoubira Fischer, which were mantained captive in the "Parque Dois Irmãos" and in the "Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco". The samples were mantained in wet chambers at room temperature and observed during 15 days. The isolates were inoculated into Petri dishes containing Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and/or Synthetic Mucor Agar (SMA). Twelve taxa were identified, 11 already known and a new form, as follows: Mucor circinelloides f. circinelloides, M. circinelloides f. griseo-cyanus, M. circinelloides f. janssenii, M. circinelloides f. lusitanicus, M. hiemalis f. hiemalis, M. hiemalis f. luteus, M. genevensis, M. piriformis f. piriformis, M. piriformis f. nanus, M. racemosus f. chibinensis, M. subtilissimus and M. variosporus. Except for the Bubalus bubalis dung, all presented taxa of Mucor, with higher diversity in those of Bison bonasus, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Dasyprocta fuliginosa and Mazama gouazoubira. The highest index of similarity (75%) on taxa of Mucorales occurred between Dasyprocta fuliginosa and Ovis aries, as well as, between Capra hircus and Oryctolagus cuniculus dung. Descriptions, comments, illustrations and keys for the identified taxa have been included.
Mucorales; Mucor spp.; taxonomy; herbivorous dung; Recife
