ichthyophonus hoferi 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. ichthyophonus hoferi hyphas (or germ tubes) and schizonts of ichthyophonus hoferi. scientific classification (unranked): opisthokonta (unranked): holozoa class: ichthyosporea order: ichthyophonida genus: ichthyophonus species: i. hoferi binomial name ichthyophonus hoferiplehn & mulsow 1911 in fish, i. hoferi causes hemorrhages,fin/skin rot, destroys muscle as well as inducing ova to develop without spermatic fertilization through a toxin (prasad, aarathi, like a virgin, how science is redesigning the rules of sex, oneworld publications, 2012, p.91)