Consumption of hypogeous fungi by the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus) in eastern Australia

Faecal samples collected from the Mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus) at several sites in eastern Australia showed the presence of spores from at least 21 hypogeous fungi, and several epigeous species. Most were found in faeces of animals at one site, where samples were collected in different seasons. Further collections are needed from the other sites at different times of the year to clarify how widespread the mycophagous habits of T. caninus are. Many of the hypogeous fungi identified are either known or presumed to form mycorrhizal relationships with the roots of forest trees and shrubs and T. caninus may disperse their spores in its faeces.