SLIME MOLDS AND WATER MOLDS
Slime molds (see photograph) and water molds are protistans that superficially resemble fungi. Like fungi, the slime molds and water molds are not photosynthetic. In addition, many of the slime molds and water molds have bodies formed from thread-like structures called hyphae, which many fungi possess as well. However, several characteristics differentiate slime molds and water molds from fungi, including the fact that fungi have cell walls composed of chitin, while slime molds and water molds do not. Slime molds and water molds play an important role in the recycling of nutrients by digesting decaying organic material. The slime molds and water molds, like the other protistans, have complex life cycles.