Endogonales is an
order of
fungi
A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
within the
phylum
In biology, a phylum (; : phyla) is a level of classification, or taxonomic rank, that is below Kingdom (biology), kingdom and above Class (biology), class. Traditionally, in botany the term division (taxonomy), division has been used instead ...
of
Zygomycota,
and in class Endogonomycetes.
It contains 2
families; Endogonaceae, with 6
genera
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...
and 38 species and Densosporaceae, with one genera and 4 species.
History
The Endogales were originally formed to hold a single family, the Endogonaceae, which comprised 15 species in four genera (''Endogone'', ''Peridiospora'', ''Sclerogone'', and ''Youngiomyces''). They were transferred to the phylum
Glomeromycota to
Zygomycetes. Then they were placed in
Zygomycotina.
They were placed in the subphylum
Mucoromycotina in 2017 and genus ''Youngiomyces'' was synonymized with genus ''Endogone''.
They were then placed in the
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unisp ...
class Endogonomycetes.
[
]
Genera
''Endogonaceae'' ;
* '' Endogone'' (26 species)
* '' Jimgerdemannia'' (3: ''Jimgerdemannia ambigua'' , ''Jimgerdemannia flammicorona'' , ''Jimgerdemannia lactiflua'' )
* '' Peridiospora'' (2: ''Peridiospora reticulata'' and ''Peridiospora tatachia'' )
* '' Sclerogone'' (1: ''Sclerogone eucalypti'' )
* '' Sphaerocreas'' (4)
* '' Vinositunica'' (2: ''Vinositunica ingens'' and ''Vinositunica radiata'' )
''Densosporaceae'' ;Incertae sedis
or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...
''.
Life cycle
The life cycle of the Endogonales is distinguished by their production of small sporocarps containing many zygospores, which are eaten by rodents and distributed by their faeces.
They also produce a fetid odour that attracts mammal
A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...
s and encourages them to eat their fruiting bodies, and so spread their spores.[
]
Food
Like all fungi, they are heterotroph
A heterotroph (; ) is an organism that cannot produce its own food, instead taking nutrition from other sources of organic carbon, mainly plant or animal matter. In the food chain, heterotrophs are primary, secondary and tertiary consumers, but ...
s with some being described as saprobes (with weak evidence).[C.J. Alexopolous, Charles W. Mims, M. Blackwell et al., ''Introductory Mycology, 4th ed.'' (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004) ]
References
Zygomycota
Fungus orders
{{Zygomycota-stub