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The following points highlight the eight general characters of slime moulds.
(1) Slime moulds do not have chlorophyll.
(2) Slime moulds are surrounded by the plasma membrane only (somatic parts are without cell walls). However, the spores have the cellulose cell walls.
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(3) At one stage of the life cycle Slime moulds have amoeboid structure.
(4) The slime moulds live usually amongst decaying vegetation. They are quite common on lawns and moist fields.
(5) Slime moulds exhibit wide range of colouration.
(6) Slime moulds have phagotrophic or saprotrophic nutrition. Parasitic forms are not known.
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(7) Both asexual and sexual modes of reproduction are found. They produce spores within sporangia. A spore possesses a cell wall of cellulose.
(8) The slime moulds resemble both protozoa and the true fungi. They are like protozoa in their amoeboid plasmodial stage and similar to true fungi in spore formation.
