The ''Ancylistaceae'' are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

of fungi in the order

Entomophthorales The Entomophthorales are an order of fungi that were previously classified in the class Zygomycetes. A new subdivision, Entomophthoromycotina, has recently been circumscribed for them. Most species of the Entomophthorales are pathogens of ins ...

. The family currently contains 3 genera: '' Ancylistes'', '' Macrobiotophthora'', '' Conidiobolus''. '' Capillidium'' was added in 2020, it was once thought to be a sub-genus of ''Conidiobolus''. '' Microconidiobolus'' and '' Neoconidiobolus'' were also added in 2020.

Brief taxonomic history

This family was originally an order thought to be included with the aquatic Phycomycetes and included members of

Oomycota Oomycota forms a distinct phylogenetic lineage of fungus-like eukaryotic microorganisms, called oomycetes (). They are filamentous and heterotrophic, and can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction of an oospore is the result ...

. It was Helen Berdan,Helen Berdan Mycologia, Vol. 30, No. 4 (Jul. - Aug., 1938), pp. 396-415 who determined that ''Ancylistes'' belonged to order

.Sparrow, FK. 1960. Aquatic Phycomycetes. 2nd edition. The University of Michigan Press. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Later, the Oomycetes were removed as were several

zygomycete Zygomycota, or zygote fungi, is a former phylum, division or phylum of the kingdom Fungi. The members are now part of two Phylum, phyla: the Mucoromycota and Zoopagomycotina, Zoopagomycota. Approximately 1060 species are known. They are mostly t ...

genera.

Morphology

The

mycelium Mycelium (plural mycelia) is a root-like structure of a fungus consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. Fungal colonies composed of mycelium are found in and on soil and many other substrates. A typical single spore germinates ...

is coenocytic or irregularly

septate In biology, a septum (Latin for ''something that encloses''; plural septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate. Examples Human anatomy * Interatr ...

. The nuclei are small. During

interphase Interphase is the portion of the cell cycle that is not accompanied by visible changes under the microscope, and includes the G1, S and G2 phases. During interphase, the cell grows (G1), replicates its DNA (S) and prepares for mitosis (G2). A c ...

, condense

chromatin Chromatin is a complex of DNA and protein found in eukaryotic cells. The primary function is to package long DNA molecules into more compact, denser structures. This prevents the strands from becoming tangled and also plays important roles in r ...

is absent, but a central

nucleolus The nucleolus (, plural: nucleoli ) is the largest structure in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. It is best known as the site of ribosome biogenesis, which is the synthesis of ribosomes. The nucleolus also participates in the formation of ...

can be observed. The

can become disjointed.Alexopoulos C.J, Mims C.W, Blackwell M. 1996. Introductory Mycology. 4th edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. In ''Ancylistes'', who are

parasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has ...

s of desmids (algae form), the hyphae grow toward the ends of the host. As the hyphae grow, branches that follow the groves between plates in the chloroplast are produced. Upon reaching the end, the hyphae grow toward the other end to completely encircle the chloroplast.

Septa The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly 4 million people in five c ...

are produced progressively with segments containing many nuclei. Conidia are produced singly on unbranched

sporophore {{Short pages monitor