Elaeomyxa Explained

Elaeomyxa is a genus of slime molds in the family Lamprodermataceae.^[1], 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, 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:

• Elaeomyxa australiensis (S.L. Stephenson, G. Moreno & H. Singer) G. Moreno, H. Singer & S.L. Stephenson, 2008^[1]
• Elaeomyxa cerifera (G. Lister) Hagelst., 1942^[1]
• Elaeomyxa miyazakiensis (Emoto) Hagelst., 1942^{[1] [4]}
• Elaeomyxa reticulospora (Gilert) G. Moreno, H. Singer & S.L. Stephenson, 2008^[1]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Elaeomyxa Hagelst.. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2022-05-05.
2. Web site: Myxomycetes . Encyclopedia Britannica . 2022-05-05.
3. Book: Lado . Carlos . Eliasson . Uno . 2017 . Myxomycetes: Biology, Systematics, Biogeography, and Ecology . 205 . Academic Press Books . Cambridge.
4. A new Stemonitis species and a new record of Elaeomyxa from China . 10.11646/PHYTOTAXA.323.1.7 . . 26 September 2017 . Zhang Bo . Li Yu . 323 . 83 . 26 May 2022. free .