1. Plural of mycetozoan; organisms formerly classified as fungi but now recognized as slime molds, belonging to the phylum Mycetozoa, characterized by a mobile plasmodium stage.
Usage: biology; taxonomy; also called acellular slime molds or true slime molds

Examples

• Mycetozoans are commonly found on decaying wood and leaf litter in moist environments.
• The plasmodium of mycetozoans can move across surfaces in search of food.
• Scientists reclassified mycetozoans as protists rather than fungi based on genetic evidence.
• Mycetozoans play an important role in decomposing organic matter in forest ecosystems.
• Under a microscope, the fruiting bodies of mycetozoans display intricate and beautiful structures.