Estonian University of Life Sciences seeks folk names for slime moulds

The Estonian University of Life Sciences holds over 1,200 slime mould specimens in its fungal collection, but only three have Estonian folk names. Researchers are calling for more creative Estonian-language names for these unusual organisms.

The Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu is home to a remarkable collection of more than 1,200 slime mould specimens — yet only three of these curious organisms currently carry Estonian folk names. The three named species are known as "puugipask" (wood dung), "hundipiim" (wolf's milk), and "limasarvik" (slime horn), leaving the vast majority unnamed in the Estonian language.

Slime moulds, known in Estonian as "limakud" or "limaseened," are fascinating biological entities that occupy a unique niche between fungi and animals. Despite their abundance in Estonian forests, they have largely escaped the attention of everyday nature enthusiasts and linguists alike, resulting in a significant gap in Estonian nature vocabulary.

Researchers at the university are now encouraging the public and nature lovers to help coin new Estonian-language names for these organisms. The initiative reflects a broader effort to preserve and develop the Estonian language in the field of natural sciences, ensuring that local biodiversity is described and celebrated in the native tongue.

The three existing folk names offer a glimpse into the imaginative tradition of Estonian nature naming — evocative, often humorous, and deeply rooted in rural observation. Scientists hope that a public naming effort could produce similarly vivid and memorable terms for dozens more species in the collection.