The Case of the Mistaken Amoeba

Joseph Leidy discovered a new amoeba species, initially hypothesizing it was a unique organism with mycelial threads. Despite his significant contributions to paleontology and microscopy, Leidy's hypothesis was later corrected by Eugene Pinard, who identified the threads as fungal parasites. The fungus, Amoeba Phyllis Simplex, infects amoebas, forming haustoria that release spores. This rare fungus presents challenges for researchers studying its behavior and impact on amoebas.

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