Animal-fungal interactions 2: first report of mycophagy by the Eastern European Hedgehog Erinaceus concolor Martin, 1837 (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Erinaceidae)

Abstract

Mycophagy (fungivory) performs numerous important ecosystem functions for fungi, plants, and animals. Fungi serve as food for diverse mammals, ranging from bears, Ursus spp., to shrews, Sorex spp. However, among the many mammals reported to eat fungi, hedgehogs and other insectivores have been poorly studied. Based on microscopic examination of a fecal sample collected from an Eastern European Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) near Ula-Muğla, Turkey, we provide the first confirmed evidence of mycophagy by hedgehogs and review the literature on hedgehog mycophagy.

Keywords

• ectomycorrhizae
• fungivory
• hypogeous fungi
• rhizopogon