Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 12, 2026

Elaeomyxa

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

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Jul 12, 2026
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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.23 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:

  • Elaeomyxa australiensis (S.L. Stephenson, G. Moreno & H. Singer) G. Moreno, H. Singer & S.L. Stephenson, 20081
  • Elaeomyxa cerifera (G. Lister) Hagelst., 19421
  • Elaeomyxa miyazakiensis (Emoto) Hagelst., 194214
  • Elaeomyxa reticulospora (Gilert) G. Moreno, H. Singer & S.L. Stephenson, 20081
Notes

Notes

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

References

  1. "Elaeomyxa Hagelst". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  2. "Myxomycetes". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  3. 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.