Elaeomyxa

Elaeomyxa
Elaeomyxa cerifera – photo by Peta McDonald
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Phylum: Amoebozoa
Class: Myxogastria
Order: Physarales
Family: Lamprodermataceae
Genus: Elaeomyxa
Hagelst., 1942

Elaeomyxa is a genus of slime molds in the family Lamprodermataceae.[1] As of May 2022, there are four known species in the genus.[1] Species in this genus have been documented in North America, Eurasia, Africa, and Australasia.[1]

Biology

The Elaeomyxa genus belongs to the true slime mold phylum Mycetozoa (also known as Myxomycetes) of fungus-like organisms that have at different times been classified in the protist, animal, and fungi kingdoms.[2][3] Like other true slime molds, Elaeomyxa species have distinct life cycle phases.[3] During the trophic (feeding or ingesting) stage,[a] called the plasmodium, the slime mold ingests food in an amoeba-like manner.[3] The slime mold then transitions to the reproductive phase, in which fruiting bodies produce spores for reproduction.[3]

Species

The Elaeomyxa genus contains the following species:

Notes

  1. ^ See: Saprotrophic nutrition for further information on the trophic stage.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Elaeomyxa Hagelst". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  2. ^ "Myxomycetes". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  3. ^ a b c d Lado, Carlos; Eliasson, Uno (2017). Myxomycetes: Biology, Systematics, Biogeography, and Ecology. Cambridge: Academic Press Books. p. 205.
  4. ^ Zhang Bo; Li Yu (26 September 2017). "A new Stemonitis species and a new record of Elaeomyxa from China". Phytotaxa. 323: 83. doi:10.11646/PHYTOTAXA.323.1.7. Retrieved 26 May 2022.