Kickxellomycotina

Kickxellomycotina is a subdivision within the fungal kingdom. It was formerly classified as an order within the Zygomycetes, but has since been re-evaluated and placed in its own distinct subdivision. Fungi in this group are typically microscopic and saprophytic, meaning they obtain nutrients from dead organic matter. They are often found in soil, dung, and decaying plant material.

The most distinctive feature of Kickxellomycotina is their unique asexual reproductive structures, called merosporangia. These structures contain chains of spores that are released from a specialized cell known as a merosporangiophore. Sexual reproduction, when it occurs, involves the formation of zygospores, similar to other Zygomycota.

The subdivision Kickxellomycotina currently contains a single class, Kickxellomycetes, and a single order, Kickxellales. There are several described genera within this order, including Kickxella, Spiromyces, and Coemansia. While not as widely studied as some other fungal groups, Kickxellomycotina plays a role in decomposition processes within its ecological niches. Research into their specific roles in ecosystems and their phylogenetic relationships continues.