🦠microbiology review

Fuligo septica

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

Fuligo septica, commonly known as the 'dog vomit' slime mold, is a plasmodial slime mold found in decaying wood and organic matter. It is notable for its bright yellow color and unique life cycle involving both single-celled and multicellular stages.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Fuligo septica is a member of the Myxomycetes class within the Amoebozoa phylum.
  2. It exhibits both a single-celled amoeboid stage and a multicellular plasmodial stage during its life cycle.
  3. This slime mold thrives in moist, decaying organic material such as rotting logs or mulch.
  4. Fuligo septica can produce spores that are dispersed by wind to colonize new environments.
  5. While not pathogenic to humans, it plays an important role in decomposing organic matter and nutrient cycling.
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