To test the validity of R. tauricus as a separate species, its carbon source utilization, isoenzyme patterns and PCR-coupled RFLP of
the ITS of its rDNA were analysed. Whilst R. tauricus differed considerably from R. pusillus and R. miehei in morphological traits as
well as its ability to row on single carbon sources, the results obtained from all other experimental approaches suggest extensive
similarity between R. tauricus and R. pusillus. These findings lead us to believe that R. tauricus is a mutant heterothallic strain of R.
pusillus.