Slime molds are often studied with fungi because they resemble with the fungi.
Slime Molds (Consumer decomposer protists/Fungi–like Protists) : Slime molds are often studied with the fungi because they resemble with the fungi. However, the resemblance does not occur in all four stages of their life cycle. Of the four stages two are inactive, involving reproduction, and two are active involving feeding and moving.
The first stage in the life of a slime mold is a spore. The spore is an inactive, reproductive cell. When the spore germinates, it produces the second stage–a single celled, active form. This may be flagellate, amoeboid or both. Like all other slime-mold forms, it does not contain chlorophyll, and with the result, is heterotrophic and cannot make its own food. Since it lacks cell walls, it feeds by engulfing bacteria, yeasts and other small organisms. Slime molds were diverged into two main branches.