| bacteria that form colonies in a self-produced slime that permits them to glide, mainly inhabiting moist soils, decaying plant matter, animal waste, and rotting tree bark: some species produce brightly colored, funguslike fruiting bodies. |
| gliding bacteria | |
noun | |
| bacteria that form colonies in self-produced slime; inhabit moist soils or decaying plant matter or animal waste [syn: myxobacteria] |