Check List 8(4): 617–619, 2012
© 2012 Check List and Authors Chec List
ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of species lists and distribution
An update on the myxomycete biota (Amoebozoa: 
Myxogastria) of Colombia
Carlos Rojas 1*, Natalia Herrera 2 and Steven L. Stephenson 3
1 Universidad de Costa Rica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería and Escuela de Biología. San Pedro de Montes de Oca 11501-2060, Costa  
 Rica.
2 Universidad de Antioquia, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica de Productos Naturales, SIU. Medellín, Colombia.
3 University of Arkansas, Department of Biological Sciences. Fayetteville AR 72701-1201, United States of America.
* Corresponding author. E-mail: crojas@fungica.com
Abstract: Twelve new records of myxomycetes are reported for Colombia. These additions increase the number of 
myxomycetes known from this country to 108 species. Since the Colombian territory is part of a biodiversity-rich region 
in the heart of the Neotropics, the present effort may be considered as a minor contribution. However, due to scarcity of 
myxomycete research in this country and the importance of inventories involving microorganisms for such purposes as 
restoration ecology and ecosystem functioning projects, the data presented herein represent a necessary contribution to an 
understudied aspect of tropical ecology.
Introduction significantly to the improvement and understanding of 
The myxomycetes, also known as myxogastrids or myxomycete occurrence and distribution at both local (e.g. 
plasmodial slime molds (Stephenson and Stempen 1994), Ko Ko et al. 2010) and regional (e.g. Ndiritu et al. 2009) 
comprise a monophyletic group of amoeboid protists (see levels.
Pawlowski and Burki 2009) known to occur in most if not In Colombia, the most recent inventory of myxomycetes 
all terrestrial ecosystems (Stephenson 2003). Although was published by Uribe-Meléndez (1995) more than a 
myxomycetes are characterized by a complex life cycle decade ago. However, active research on myxomycetes 
that involves two different trophic (feeding) stages and has not been carried out in this country for at least two 
one reproductive (spore-producing) stage, studies of the decades (see Uribe-Meléndez 1995). In fact, for Colombia 
group invariably have been centered on the latter (see as a whole, only a handful of studies have been carried out 
Spiegel et al. 1995). In fact, the taxonomy of this group of on myxomycetes (see Lado and Wrigley de Basanta 2008). 
organisms is based almost exclusively on the morphology Fortunately, some additional research has taken place 
of the fruiting bodies in which the spores are produced recently (e.g. Herrera et al. 2011). However, a more active 
(e.g. Martin and Alexopoulos 1969). effort directed towards studying the myxomycete biota of 
The development of molecular techniques has resulted the country is still lacking.
in a significant increase in our knowledge of phylogenetic In order to contribute to our knowledge of myxomycetes 
relationships among higher taxa within the myxomycetes in Colombia, the study described herein was carried out. 
(e.g. Fiore-Donno et al. 2008) and revealed the rather The main objective of this paper is to report species that 
artificial nature of the system of classification traditionally to our knowledge and according to information in the 
used within the group (see Fiore-Donno et al. 2010). available literature have not been recorded previously for 
These techniques also have been useful in developing an Colombia. The importance of these additions is related 
understanding that some morphospecies may consist of to the fact that updated distribution ranges for species of 
several biological entities (Winsett and Stephenson 2008). myxomycetes in the Neotropical region provide a more 
In spite of such advancements, a complete molecular- complete body of data on which to design more complex 
based phylogeny for the myxomycetes is still not available ecology-based projects in the future.
(Stephenson 2011). 
In this context, the distribution of myxomycetes Materials and Methods
around the world is still based on the occurrence of The results presented herein were generated from both 
distinct species that can be recognized on the basis of a series of rapid assessments of myxomycete biodiversity 
their morphological features. Using this approach, Lado carried out in Colombia during the period 2006-2008 
and Wrigley de Basanta (2008) reported 431 species for as well as from an examination of records of specimens 
the entire Neotropics. However, more recent studies (e.g. deposited in the United States National Fungus Collection 
Rojas et al. 2010a, Rojas et al. 2010b) have resulted in a (BPI), as accessed through the Global Biodiversity 
moderate increase in that figure. In any case, it is likely that Information Facility portal. In all cases, the morphological 
additional records for the region will be generated as more concept of species has been used and the nomenclatural 
research is carried out in understudied areas. Recently, an treatment followed is that of Lado (2005-2012). All 
increasing number of efforts, focused on including such specimens obtained during the rapid assessments have 
areas in the global study of myxomycetes, has contributed been deposited in the mycological herbarium (UARKM) of 
617
Li s t s o f sp e c i e s
Rojas et al. | Update on the Myxomycete biota of Colombia
the University of Arkansas. Comatricha laxa Rostaf.
For records collected by the authors, the specimens K.P. Dumont, BPI 821467; January 11, 1976; road between 
representing the sources of the records were obtained Bogota and Villavincencio via  Caqueza, SW of Bogotá; 
using a combination of both field and a laboratory-based elevation approximately 2700 m; 4°30’N, 74°7’W; 
methodology. In the first instance, fruiting bodies of Department of  Cundinamarca.
myxomycetes were searched for on dead plant material 
according to the opportunistic protocol described by Comatricha pulchella (C. Bab.) Rostaf.
Cannon and Sutton (2004). For the laboratory-based K.P. Dumont, BPI 822076; January 24, 1976; road to 
methodology, the moist chamber culture technique Antonio Nariño airport from Pasto, SW Colombia; elevation 
outlined by Stephenson and Stempen (1994) was used. approximately 2400 m; 1°19’N, 77°16’W; Department of 
In both instances, when myxomycete fruiting bodies were Nariño.
found, small portions of the substrate with the specimens 
present were glued onto pieces of paper placed in small * Comatricha tenerrima (M.A. Curtis) G. Lister 
pasteboard boxes and then allowed to dry out at room N. Herrera, UARKM 36137, 36138 and 36142; March 16, 
temperature. After this process, identification of particular 2008; University of Antioquia Campus, in a premontane 
specimens was carried out using standard monographs moist forest; elevation 1460 m; 6°16’6” N, 75°34’13” W; 
(e.g., Martin and Alexopoulos 1969), after which they were Department of Antioquia.
placed in the herbarium. 
* Hemitrichia pardina (Minakata) Ing 
Results and Discussion C. Rojas, UARKM 30453, 30463 and 30476; June 8, 
In the list that follows, species are arranged 2006; Santa Elena de Medellin, in a Quercus humboldtii 
alphabetically by genus and then species. After the name dominated forest; elevation 2500 m; 6°13’7” N, 75°30’24” 
of the species, the name of the collector is included along W; Department of Antioquia.
with the accession number for the herbarium where the 
specimen is deposited. The United States National Fungus Hemitrichia spinifera M.L. Farr
Collections is abbreviated as BPI, whereas the mycological K.P. Dumont, BPI 838725; August 21, 1976; road between 
herbarium of the University of Arkansas as UARKM. Other Bucaramanga and Pamplona, NW Colombia; elevation 
relevant information such as collection date, location, approximately 2400 m; 7°30’N, 72°32’W; Department 
elevation and coordinates also have been included. of Norte de Santander. This collection represents an 
Finally, the administrative Colombian department in isotype of what is apparently a rare species as well as an 
which the collection was made is listed at the end. Those unreported record for the Neotropics according to Lado 
georeferences that include information in the form of and Wrigley de Basanta (2008).
degrees, minutes and seconds represent measurements 
obtained directly in the field using a portable GPS unit, * Licea minima Fr.
whereas those including only information in the form C. Rojas, UARKM 30484, 30473, 30478, 30480 and 30481; 
of degrees and seconds correspond to a centroid-based June 11, 2006; San Sebastián de Palmitas, in a premontane 
georeference derived by the authors using the information mixed forest in early stage of succession; 2700 m; 6°23’46” 
on the original herbarium label. N, 75°40’18” W; Department of Antioquia.
Species with a synonym provided represent records of 
previously unpublished taxa for Colombia for which the * Licea pusilla Schrad.
currently recognized name is different from the original C. Rojas, UARKM 30479; June 11, 2006; San Sebastián de 
name listed on the herbarium collection. Names marked Palmitas, in a premontane mixed forest in early stage of 
with one asterisk correspond to species collected as part succession; elevation 2700 m; 6°23’46” N, 75°40’18” W; 
of the rapid assessments carried out by the authors. Department of Antioquia.
Names without an asterisk correspond to species for 
which records were found in the United States National Metatrichia floriformis (Schwein.) Nann.-Bremek.
Fungus Collections but which have not been reported for K.P. Dumont, BPI 836500 as Trichia floriformis (Schwein.) 
Colombia previously. G. Lister; January 17, 1976; road between Florencia and 
A total of 12 new records of myxomycetes for Colombia El Doncello, SE Colombia; elevation approximately 250 m; 
are reported as a result of the combined methodology 1°21’N, 75°21’W; Department of Caquetá.
used in the present study. Seven records are for specimens 
collected directly by the authors, whereas five were * Physarum echinosporum Lister
located in the database of the United States National N. Herrera, UARKM 36157; April 9, 2008; Mompos, in a 
Fungus Collections. All of these records of myxomycetes lowland tropical rainforest; elevation 18 m; 9°14’24.14” 
for Colombia are provided below. N, 74°25’33.96” W; Department of Bolivar.
Arcyria obvelata (Oeder) Onsberg * Physarum notabile T.Macbr.
K.P. Dumont, BPI 833262 as Arcyria nutans (Bull.) Grev.; C. Rojas, UARKM 30458; June 8, 2006; Santa Elena de 
July 4, 1978; road to Medellin  near Tenjo, NW of Bogotá; Medellín, in a Quercus humboldtii dominated forest; 
elevation approximately 2500 m; 4°37’N, 74°5’W; elevation 2500 m; 6°13’7” N, 75°30’24” W; Department 
Department  of Cundinamarca. of Antioquia.
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Rojas et al. | Update on the Myxomycete biota of Colombia
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Acknowledgments: We would like to thank the logistic contribution collections of the myxomycete Didymium squamulosum. Revista 
of Ana Esperanza Franco Molano and Aída Vasco at the University of Mexicana de Micología 27: 59-64.
Antioquia. Appreciation is extended to the researchers of the Laboratory 
for Eumycetozoan Research of the University of Arkansas at the time of 
the study for their support during the laboratory process. Some of the Received: May 2012
rapid assessments that generated part of the information for this project Accepted: July 2012
were funded by the National Science Foundation through the grant DEB- Published online: August 2012
0316284. Editorial responsibility: Matias J. Cafaro
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