myxoom

Myxoom is a term used in fictional biology to denote a gelatinous, mucus-producing organism. It is not a real taxon. In descriptive worldbuilding, myxooms are typically depicted as soft, translucent masses that range from a few millimeters to several centimeters across. The defining feature is a mucous matrix that can flow like a gel, enabling slow movement and the uptake of dissolved nutrients from surrounding water or damp substrates.

Life cycle is usually plasmodial in fiction: amoeboid cells fuse to form a single feeding mass (the plasmodium) that can spread through moist environments, then differentiate to form sporocarps or spore-producing structures when conditions deteriorate. Some stories describe rapid growth by fragmentation, allowing clonal expansion.

Habitats commonly include leaf litter, peat bogs, marsh edges, and shallow freshwater pools. Myxooms prefer humid microclimates and can enter a dormant cyst when desiccation or cold threatens survival. Ecologically, they are depicted as detritivores or microbe-feeders, consuming bacteria, yeasts, and small protists. The mucous layer can trap particulate matter and small organisms, creating microhabitats within the slime.

In fiction, myxooms are sometimes used as bioindicators of moisture or as a renewable resource for bio-materials, due to their flexible, mucus-rich matrix. They also appear as hazards in some narratives, where rapid growth or mucus exudates impede movement or clog sensors.