vs Pacific Spiny-rat

Comatricha laxa compared with Proechimys decumanus

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated while Pacific Spiny-rat is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Pacific Spiny-rat
Kingdom	Protozoa (โพรโทซัว)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Mycetozoa	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Myxomycetes (Myxomycetes)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Stemonitidales	Rodentia (อันดับสัตว์ฟันแทะ)
Family	Stemonitidaceae	Echimyidae
Genus	Comatricha	Proechimys
Species	Comatricha laxa	Proechimys decumanus

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Pacific Spiny-rat

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Pacific Spiny-rat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and South America (Brazil).

Pacific Spiny-rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ecuador. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

<em>Comatricha laxa</em> is a plasmodial slime mold in the class Myxomycetes, order Stemonitidales, with a documented distribution spanning Asia, Europe, and South America. As a member of the genus <em>Comatricha</em>, it forms stalked sporangia with a characteristic capillitium that forms a loose, open network aiding spore dispersal. The species inhabits rotting logs, dead bark, and moist leaf litter in forested environments where conditions support the plasmodial feeding stage. The plasmodium is a multinucleate, macroscopic structure that migrates over substrates to engulf bacteria and other microorganisms. Geographic range data confirm a wide cosmopolitan distribution in suitable habitats across three continents. <em>C. laxa</em> contributes to decomposition and nutrient cycling in woodland ecosystems. No quantitative biological metrics such as body size or mass are applicable to this organism, and it has not been evaluated by the IUCN.