An exceptional find on rabbit dung from Italy : third record worldwide of Ascobolus perforatus.

An on-going survey of coprophilous fungi from Italy has continued, resulting in reports of a new onygenalean taxon and a very rare Ascobolus species. The morphological characteristics of Ascobolus perforatus are described and compared with similar taxa. Additional differences between this species and another belonging to the same section of Ascobolus are provided from examination of two Italian collections. The likeness between Ascobolus perforatus and some Ascodesmis species is stressed and further proved by comparative colour figures obtained from Italian collections of Ascodesmis microscopica, A. nana, and A. nigricans.