FIRST RECORDS OF MYXOMYCETES IN BRAZILIAN CAVES

Abstract

The aim of this article is to report the first records of myxomycetes in Brazilian caves, based on three specimens collected in the karst area of the municipality of Pains, located in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The specimens, all belonging to the Trichiaceae family (Trichiales, Myxogastromycetidae), were identified as Arcyria denudata (L.) Wettst., Hemitrichia calyculata (Speg.) M.L. Farr and Metatrichia vesparia (Batsch) Nann.-Bremek. Notably, Hemitrichia Rostaf. and Metatrichia Ing have not previously been documented in cave environments around the world. While all three species are cosmopolitan, they had not been recorded in the central-west region of Minas Gerais or in cave environments globally.