Slime that has Intelligence and Mobility (includes 5 Macro Photos)

The slimy life forms I refer to in the title are the slime moulds (or molds, in American English). What can I tell you about slime moulds? Well the fact that they are slimy and look mouldy is not too far from the sum of my knowledge on the subject. However, I have come across many specimens over the years and find them truly fascinating. For a long time, they were considered a form of fungi, but these days they are placed in the Protista (a catch all group for eukaryotes that are neither animal, plant, or fungi) They are single celled organisms, however, at times they can form aggregations which essentially act as a single body. That is what we see in the photos below. It is in this aggregated form that they reproduce, forming spore containing sporangia. They even become mobile and show signs of basic intelligence. Yes you read that correctly! They can move, albeit very slowly. Regarding intelligence, Japanese researchers found that Slime moulds were able to plot a course through a maze in order to get to a food source. They can be quite large too. Apparently the largest slime moulds can cover an area of up to thirty square metres.

Now what does all of this remind me of? Oh yeah! The old 1958 horror sci-fi with Steve McQueen, called “The Blob”? Fortunately Slime moulds don't feed on humans. Even if they did, I reckon that even I could outrun one. One slime mould was recorded as moving at a rate of 1.35mm per second. That's pretty impressive. However, if I took one step away, say a 500mm step, then even if the slime could maintain top speed, it would take over six minutes to catch up with me. That gives me plenty of time to rest between steps. In any case, we do not fulfill their dietary requirements. They prefer to dine on various microorganisms that are found within decaying plant material.

Below are a few of the Tasmanian Slime moulds that I have come across. Unfortunately I cannot put a definite name to them.

The first three shots are are of the same specimen. It was on the sawn off end of a fallen Eucalyptus tree. It is possible the early stage Stemonitis axifera. Feel free to offer corrections or suggestions.

_{( All photos, videos, and text on this blog are by @mostly.nature )}

This beautifully coloured one was on the stump of an old Monterey cypress at the Narawntapu National Park. It is probably Dictydiaethalium plumbeum. As I said, I don't profess to know much about these so the names I give here are only suggestions.

The last one was on an old Acacia log right here in my own backyard. It is most likely Fuligo septica which also has the most undignified of common names, the 'Dog vomit fungus'.

References:

• Slime mould solves maze puzzle (2000) - ABC Science News (Link to article)
• Slime mold. (2017, September 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved
  06:57, October 5, 2017 (Link)

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