Keys to Fungi on Dung

Keys to Fungi on Dung is the definitive field manual for anyone serious about identifying coprophilous fungi, those remarkable organisms that fruit on the excrement of herbivores. Written by M. J. Richardson and first published in 1971, this volume distills decades of mycological expertise into practical, usable keys that work in the real world. Rather than merely cataloging species, Richardson provides the methodological foundation: how to collect dung samples, how to incubate them properly to encourage fungal growth, and which microscopic techniques reveal the diagnostic characters that distinguish one species from another. The book acknowledges that successful identification requires both proper technique and a reader willing to get their hands dirty, quite literally. What elevates this beyond a dry reference work is Richardson's evident fascination with these fungi as demonstrations of ecological diversity and morphological ingenuity. The fungi that colonize dung have evolved sophisticated strategies for dispersal and survival, and this guide opens that hidden world to careful observers. Whether you are a professional mycologist, a graduate student, or an advanced amateur naturalist, these keys offer a pathway into a specialized domain that most people never think to examine.