Mucor melanoleucus (Mucorales, Mucoromycota), A New Species Isolated from Ailuropoda melanoleuca (Giant Panda) Feces.

Mucor is a species-rich genus in Mucoraceae, predominantly saprotrophic in soil and dung. Some Mucor members can cause mucormycosis but also have valuable practical applications in kinds of industries such as the food and pharmaceutical industry. Mucor melanoleucus sp. nov. isolated from giant panda feces is described herein based on morphological characteristics, physiological experiments and phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) - large subunit of ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) sequences demonstrates that this new species is closely allied to M. saturninus. However, morphological comparisons display it differs from M. saturninus by smaller sporangia, smaller columellae, larger sporangiospores, and absent zygospores. The finding of this new species enriches the diversity of early-diverging fungi, especially in animal dung.