The order Onygenales is a group of fungi within the class Eurotiomycetes, primarily known for their ability to degrade keratin, making them important in the decomposition of hair, feathers, and skin. Members of this order exhibit a range of lifestyles, including saprophytic, pathogenic, and occasionally symbiotic relationships. Several species are medically significant as they can cause infections in humans and animals, such as dermatophytoses and systemic mycoses. Onygenales fungi often produce characteristic sexual and asexual spores, and many thrive in soil or animal-associated environments. Their ecological role and pathogenic potential make them an important focus of both environmental and medical mycology.