Chytridiomycota

Chytridiomycota is a division of the Fungi kingdom. The name is derived from the Greek words chytridion, meaning "little pot", referring to the structure that contains unreleased zoospores. Chytridiomycota are unique among fungi in having zoospores that are motile.

Characteristics

Chytridiomycota are mostly aquatic fungi, and their spores are capable of active movement. They are the only group of fungi that have retained flagellated spores (zoospores), similar to those found in animals and some protists.

Classification

Chytridiomycota are typically classified as follows:

• Kingdom: Fungi
• Division: Chytridiomycota

Ecology

Chytridiomycota play a significant role in the decomposition of organic materials, such as dead plants and animals, and in nutrient cycling. They are also known to be parasites of all eukaryotic groups.

Pathogenic species

Some species of Chytridiomycota, such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, are pathogenic and can cause diseases in amphibians, leading to significant population declines and extinctions.

See also

• Fungi
• Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
• Zoospore

References

Chytridiomycota Resources
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