Amoebophilus
# Amoebophilus

Amoebophilus is a genus of zygomycete fungi that parasitizes amoeba.

## Morphology

Amoebophilus species are ectoparasites of amoeba. The thallus is composed of an internal haustorium that can be heart-shaped, globose, or lobose. Trailing chains of four or more conidia are produced from the haustorium. Zygospores are spherical at first and become polyhedral with age.

## Ecology

Amoebophilus species have been reported from forest and agricultural soils and freshwater ponds where they infect free living amoeba. Infection begins when a conidium comes in contact with an amoeba. The conidium produces a penetration tube to invade the host and form the haustorium. Once the haustorium is formed, the conidium germinates and gives rise to a chain of conidia. Due to difficulties in identifying amoeba, the host ranges of most species are unknown, with the exception of Amoebophilus simplex, which is restricted to species of Mayorella.

## Taxonomy

Amoebophilus species were first observed by Leidy in 1874 who mistook them as part of the amoeba and used them to describe a new genus. In 1902, Penard pointed out that the filaments observed by Leidy were in fact a parasite. The genus was formerly erected by Dangeard in 1910 based on parasitized individuals of Pelomyxa vorax; he named the species after Penard.

## Species

* Amoebophilus penardii Dangeard
* Amoebophilus caudatus Dangeard
* Amoebophilus korotneffii Dangeard
* Amoebophilus sicyosporus Drechsler
* Amoebophilus dangeardii Miura
* Amoebophilus simplex Barron
