Ichthyophonus hoferi

Ichthyophonus hoferi is a single-celled protist that occupies a key phylogenetic position to understand the origin of animals. It has chitin cell wall, hyphae, and an amoeboid stage. It is a common parasite of marine and freshwater fishes.^[2][3][4]

Ichthyophonus hoferi
Hyphas (or germ tubes) and schizonts of Ichthyophonus hoferi.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Clade:	Amorphea
Clade:	Holozoa
Class:	Ichthyosporea
Order:	Ichthyophonida
Family:	Ichthyophonidae
Genus:	Ichthyophonus
Species:	I. hoferi
Binomial name
Ichthyophonus hoferi Plehn & Mulsow 1911 [1]

In fish, I. hoferi causes hemorrhages and fin and skin rot, destroys muscle, and induces ova to develop without spermatic fertilization through a toxin.^[5]