TASFUNGI

Slime Moulds - The Myxomycota

Technically these organisms are not classified with fungi, however because they share some characteristics common to amoeba and fungi, they are often included in guides featuring fungi. Fuhrer (2009) describes how the mature fruit body or 'sporangium', is a spore producing structure that develops into a creeping, slime-like mass called a plasmodium. This stage behaves like a giant amoeba feeding on bacteria, fungi and decaying organic matter. For more information on Tasmanian Slime Moulds visit the web site that Sarah Lloyd has created called Disjunct Naturalists that features her work on this amazing group. She has also written a book called 'Where the Slime Mould Creeps'.