Ichthyosporea
Parasitic opisthokonts bridging the gap between animals and fungi.
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The Ichthyosporea (also known as the DRIP clade or Mesomycetozoea) are a small group of Opisthokonta within Eukaryota, formerly classified as protists. They are mostly parasites of fish and other animals, appearing in host tissues as enlarged spheres or ovals containing spores. Originally placed in various groups as fungi, protozoa, or colorless algae, they form a coherent group on molecular trees and are closely related to both animals and fungi, making them of interest to biologists studying the origins of these kingdoms.
Scientific classification
- CladeEukaryota
- CladeObazoa
- CladeHolozoa
- ClassIchthyosporea
Named by Cavalier-Smith 1998
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Ichthyosporea (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Also known as
- DRIP clade, Mesomycetozoea
- Typical hosts
- Fish and other animals
- Morphology
- Enlarged spheres or ovals containing spores
- Evolutionary position
- Sibling-group of Filozoa (including animals) per a 2008 study
- Notable member
- Rhinosporidium seeberi (infects birds and mammals, including humans)
Facts from the source article.
Background
The group was originally recognized through the DRIP acronym, standing for the first protozoa identified as members: Dermocystidium, the 'rosette agent' (Sphaerothecum destruens), Ichthyophonus, and Psorospermium. Cavalier-Smith later treated them as the class Ichthyosporea, reflecting that all were parasites of fish. Subsequent additions, including the former fungal orders Eccrinales and Amoebidiales, led Mendoza et al. to propose the name Mesomycetozoea, referring to their evolutionary position in the middle ('Meso-') of fungi ('-myceto-') and animals ('-zoea').
More in Higher-Level Taxonomy & Evolution
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Ichthyosporea (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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