Which organism forms colonies that display a "fried egg" appearance when cultured?

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the organism known for forming colonies that have a distinct "fried egg" appearance when cultured on certain types of media, such as specialized agar. This characteristic appearance is due to the unique morphology of Mycoplasma species, which lack a cell wall and have a very small size. The colonies appear flattened and have a central dome with a surrounding halo that resembles a fried egg, which is a key visual identification trait.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant pathogen associated with respiratory infections, particularly atypical pneumonia. Its ability to present in this unique colony form helps microbiologists and clinicians recognize and diagnose infections caused by this organism accurately. In contrast, the other organisms listed do not exhibit this specific colony morphology, making Mycoplasma pneumoniae the correct choice.