Carnivorous fungus

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Carnivorous fungi are fungi that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and digesting animals.[1] More than 200 species have been described, belonging to the divisions Zygomycota, Basidiomycota, and Deuteromycota. They live in the soil and trap nematodes.

Two basic trapping mechanisms have been observed in carnivorous fungi:

  • constricting rings (active traps)
  • adhesive structures (passive traps)

Sequencing of ribosomal DNA has shown that these trap types occur in separate fungus lineages.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pramer, D. 1964. Nematode-trapping fungi. Science 144: 382-388.
  2. ^ Ahrén, D., M.U. Bjõrn & A. Tunlind 1998. Phylogeny of nematode-trapping fungi based on 18S rDNA sequences. FEMS Microbiology Letters 158: 179-184.

[edit] External links

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