Mucor amphiborum

Mucor amphibiorum is a fungus found in Australia that causes infections in amphibians and platypuses. Because M. amphibiorum belongs to the genus Mucor, the infection is classified as a form of mucormycosis. The fungus was first reported from a German zoo in 1972 where it caused disease in a species of green tree frog that was imported from Australia and infected frogs, toads, and salamanders in neighboring exhibits.^[1] It is most commonly found in frogs and toads in Queensland, New South Wales, and Northern Territory, and in platypuses in Tasmania.^[1]

Morphology

Sporangiophore, sporangium, and spores of Mucor specimen.

Colonies grow up to 25 mm in height, are grayish brown, slightly aromatic, and will not grow at temperatures of 37 °Celsius. Sporangiophores are unbranched, or rarely sympodially branched. Sporangia are dark brown and up to 75 μm in diameter. Sporangiospores are globose, smooth walled, and 3.4 – 5.4 μm in diameter. Zygospores are globose or slightly compressed and 60 – 70 μm in diameter.^[2]