What are Fungi?
 

Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, and most are multicellular.  By and large, fungi differ from other eukaryotes in nutritional mode, structural organization, growth, and reproduction (Campbell, 616).  Molecular studies of various proteins and ribosomal RNA indicate (Campbell, 631) that animals, not plants, are the closest relatives of fungi (Campbell, 616).  At the present time it is estimated that as many as 1.5 million species of fungi populate the earth.  However, only 70,000 species have been described to date.  Of these 70,000 known species most are terrestrial in nature.  However, certain species, in particular many of those found in the phylum Chytridiomycota are aquatic (Tree of Life, http://tolweb.org/tree?group=fungi ).

 

Works Cited

 

Campbell, Neil A. Biology. 4th ed. Menlo Park: The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing

            Company, 1996.

 

Tree of Life Web Project.  2006.  The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and

            Life Sciences and The University of Arizona Library. 21 April 2006. 

            <http://tolweb.org/tree/>