Coprophilous fungus

The hardy spores of coprophilous species are unwittingly consumed by herbivores from vegetation, and are excreted along with the plant matter.

The spores themselves survive digestion by being particularly thick-walled, allowing them to germinate in the dung with minimum competition from other organisms.

[1] The spores are so hardy that samples of dried dung can later be rehydrated, allowing the fungus to fruit weeks later.

[2] Some species rely on a specific species for dung; for instance, Coprinus radiatus and Panaeolus campanulatus grow almost exclusively on horse feces,[6] while others, such as Panaeolus sphinctrinus, can grow on any feces or even just particularly fertile soil.

[6] Further, some species (such as Conocybe rickenii) can be found in large numbers in areas where manure has been used as a soil fertilizer, such as in gardens.