Didymium spongiosum, also known as dog sick slime mold, is a species of true slime mold in the order Physarales.[1][2] Before reclassification in 2023 it was known as Mucilago crustacea.[3] Due to its visual resemblance to canine vomit,[4] it is known colloquially as the "dog sick slime mould"[5] or "dog sick fungus",[6] albeit that slime moulds are not true fungi.[6]
The fruiting body is yellow to white, becoming paler with time, and then blackening.[5]
It usually occurs on damp grass.[4] The species was described by P. Micheli ex F.H. Wigg.[4][7]
References
Media related to Didymium spongiosum at Wikimedia Commons
- ^ a b García-Martín, J.M.; Zamora, J.C.; Lado, C. (2023-12-31). "Multigene phylogeny of the order Physarales (Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa): shedding light on the dark-spored clade". Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi. 51 (1): 89–124. doi:10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.02. ISSN 0031-5850. PMC 11041899. PMID 38665983.
- ^ "Didymium spongiosum (Dog Sick Slime Mould)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
- ^ Ing, B. (1999). The myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland. An identification handbook. Slough: Richmond Publishing Co.
- ^ a b c Silverside, Alan J. "Mucilago crustacea". Images of British biodiversity. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Dog Sick Slime Mould". NatureSpot. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ a b O'Riordan, Elaine (August 2017). "Mucilago crustacea". People and Nature - The Galway County Biodiversity Project. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ Prim. fl. holsat. (Kiliae): 112 (1780)
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