How are slime molds classified?

Slime molds are classified in the Kingdom Protista (the Protists), despite many years of having been classified as fungi, in the class Myxomycetes.

Why are slime molds classified as protists?

Slime molds are classified under the Kingdom Protista because, like other protists, they really don’t fit in with other kingdoms! They are motile like animals but some are unicellular so they can not be classified as animals.

What are the three types of slime molds?

Mycetozoa include the following three groups: Myxogastria or myxomycetes: syncytial, plasmodial, or acellular slime molds. Dictyosteliida or dictyostelids: cellular slime molds. Protosteloids: amoeboid slime molds that form fruiting bodies.

In which phyla are the slime molds classified?

They reproduce by means of spores. Slime moulds were formerly classified as fungi. They are now usually classified in two phyla, Myxomycota (plasmodial slime moulds) and Rhizopoda (cellular slime moulds plus other amoebas), of the kingdom Protoctista.

What are the characteristics of slime Moulds?

Diagnostic characters of slime moulds:
  • They do not have chlorophyll.
  • They are surrounded by plasma membrane only. However, the spores have the cellulose cell walls.
  • They live usually amongst decaying vegetation.
  • They exhibit wide range of colouration.
  • They have phagotrophic or saprotrophic nutrition.

What is the scientific name for a slime mold?

Physarum polycephalum (Slime mold) | Taxonomy | UniProt.

What are the two stages of slime molds?

Key Points. Slime molds are categorized on the basis of their life cycles into plasmodial or cellular types, both of which end their life cycle in the form of dispersed spores.

What are the examples of slime moulds?

The Myxomycetes (true slime molds) are characterized by a plasmodial stage and definite fruiting bodies. Other slime molds include Protostelia (minute, simple slime molds), Acrasia (cellular slime molds), Plasmodiophorina (parasitic slime molds), and Labyrinthulina (net slime molds).

What is the morphology of slime molds?

The slime molds are mostly eukaryotic microorganisms which are mostly unicellular but can aggregate to form a multicellular organism. These have their own classification within Protista because of their uncommon morphology.

How are slime molds similar to protists?

Slime molds are fungus-like protists commonly found on rotting logs and compost. They move very slowly in search of decaying matter to eat. When food is scarce, individual cells swarm together to form a blob-like mass, like the “dog vomit” slime mold in the Figure below.

What evidence supports the claim that slime molds are protists?

Although slime molds have properties that resemble fungi, many scientists classify the organisms with the protists because of their protozoalike qualities.

Are molds fungi or protists?

Fungus-like protists are molds. Molds are absorptive feeders, found on decaying organic matter. They resemble fungi and reproduce with spores as fungi do. Examples of fungus-like protists include slime molds and water molds.

How are slime molds similar to protozoa?

Phenotypically similar to both fungi and protozoa, slime molds produce spores but move with amoeba-like gliding motility. Phylogenetically, slime molds are more related to the amoeboid protozoa than the fungi.

What defines a slime mold?

Definition of slime mold

: any of a group (such as Myxomycetes) of organisms formerly held to be lower fungi but now often considered protists that exist vegetatively in usually moist habitats as mobile plasmodia and reproduce by spores.

What are the two stages of slime molds?

Key Points. Slime molds are categorized on the basis of their life cycles into plasmodial or cellular types, both of which end their life cycle in the form of dispersed spores.

What is slime mold made of?

Slime mold is not a plant or animal. It’s not a fungus, though it sometimes resembles one. Slime mold, in fact, is a soil-dwelling amoeba, a brainless, single-celled organism, often containing multiple nuclei.

Is slime mold a bacteria?

Slime molds belong in the phylum Myxomycota in the kingdom Protista. They are not a true fungus. These organisms exist in nature as a “blob” (plasmodium), similar to a amoeba. And they engulf their food, mostly bacteria.

What is the habitat for slime molds?

Also referred to as myxomycetes, plasmodial slime molds are commonly seen on decaying forest litter and rotting wood. They play an important role as decomposers and recyclers of nutrients in the food web. Their diet consists of the bacteria which feed on decomposing plant matter.