Introduction Slime moulds belong to the phylum Mycetozoa and are placed here within the Kingdom Protozoa. They are remarkable eukaryotic organisms with a life cycle that combines features of both amoebae and fungi. Modern classifications place them within the Amoebozoa, although their exact Linnaean rank varies between classification systems. The phylum Mycetozoa is traditionally divided into three classes: … Continue reading "Phylum Mycetozoa (Slime Moulds)"
Read MoreProtozoa and Chromista are two eukaryotic kingdoms that contain a wide variety of mostly microscopic or structurally simple organisms. Their classification has shifted repeatedly over the past century, and different taxonomic systems still draw the boundaries in different ways. For the purposes of this project, I follow a traditional Linnaean framework, using the same broad … Continue reading "Protozoa and Chromista"
Read MoreThis project began as a way to label and organise my wildlife photographs and identify the species in them. What started as simple naming quickly became more complex, as I realised that grouping organisms is often just as challenging as identifying them. Biological classification is not fixed. Advances in molecular genetics continue to reshape our … Continue reading "Classification of life"
Read MoreHere are a few orders of Agaricomycetes where I only have a few examples. Order Geastrales Family: Geastraceae Geastrum fimbriatum, sessile earthstar Geastrum triplex, collared earthstar Order Gloeophyllales Family: Gloeophyllaceae Gloeophyllum odoratum, anise mazegill This did smell strongly of anise. Order Gomphales Family: Gomphaceae Ramaria stricta, upright coral Order Phallales Family: Phallaceae Phallus impudicus, Stinkhorn … Continue reading "Other Agaricomycetes"
Read MoreKingdom: Fungi > Phylum: Basidiomycota > Class: Agaricomycetes > Order: Hymenochaetales This order is based on molecular studies rather than unifying morphological characteristics. They are mostly wood-decaying species with the majority causing white rot. Family: Hymenochaetaceae Hymenochaete rubiginosa, oak curtain crust Inonotus cuticularis, clustered bracket Xanthoporia radiata, alder bracket Family: Schizoporaceae Schizopora paradoxa, split porecrust Xylodon sambuci (syn. … Continue reading "Order Hymenochaetales"
Read MoreKingdom: Fungi > Phylum: Basidiomycota > Class: Agaricomycetes > Order: Cantharellales As well as the chanterelles, this order also includes some of the tooth fungi and others. I only have a few examples in two families so far. Family: Cantharellaceae Cantharellus cibarius, chanterelle Hydnum repandum, wood hedgehog Rickenella fibula, orange mosscap Family: Clavulinaceae Clavulina coralloides, crested … Continue reading "Order Cantharellales"
Read MoreKingdom: Fungi > Phylum: Basidiomycota > Class: Dacrymycetes This is a class that consists of only one family of jelly fungi Order Dacrymycetales Family: Dacrymycetaceae Calocera cornea, small stagshorn Calocera viscosa, yellow stagshorn Dacrymyces stillatus, common jelly spot
Read MoreArchaea can live in the most extreme places are often classified according to the environments in which they live: Halophiles are salt-loving, Thermophiles live in extremely high temperatures, Psychrophiles live in extremely cold temperatures and Methanogens are anaerobic and produce methane gas. They can be found from the frozen Artics/Antarchtics to the boiling acidic springs … Continue reading "Kingdom Archaea (Archaebacteria)"
Read MoreBacteria are single‑celled prokaryotic organisms found in almost every environment on Earth. Although some species cause disease, most are harmless or beneficial, playing essential roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and many ecological processes. My own photographs of bacteria are limited, but this section is included to complete the overall classification framework. How Bacteria Are Classified … Continue reading "Kingdom Bacteria (Eubacteria)"
Read MoreKingdom: Fungi > Phylum: Basidiomycota This large and diverse phylum include mushrooms and toadstools, bracket fungi, puffballs, earthstars and stinkhorns, club and coral fungi, tooth fungi, jelly fungi, rusts and smuts and certain yeasts. Most of the common fungi we see belong either here or under Ascomycota. The classes and orders where I have photos … Continue reading "Phylum Basidiomycota"
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