Guanophilic Fungi of Mouse-Tailed Bats

Abstract

| Bats utilize a wide range of structures as their roosting sites and occupy various food niches. The guanophilic fungi of insectivorous bats such as Rhinopoma hardwickii and R. microphyllum were isolated and identified morphologically using phase contrast and scanning electron microscopes. The fungal culture was carried out using potato dextrose agar (PDA) and species such as Aspergillus versicolar gr., A. flavus, A. niger, Aspergillus sp., Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium sp., Absidia corymbifera, Cladosporium cladosporiodes, C. resinae, Chrysosporium tropicum, Paecilomyces varitii, Malbranchea sp., Trichoderma sp., Mucor sp. and yeast were isolated and characterized. Chrysosporium tropicum plays a vital role in degrading the insectivorous bat guano which has rich contents of keratin, while C. resinae decomposes the hydrocarbons available in the guano. Many other fungi isolated in this study are opportunistic and some are medically and environmentally important.