Fungalpedia – Note 2807, Ctenomyces
Ctenomyces. Eidam.
Citation when using this data: Kandemir H et al. 2022 – Fungalpedia.
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank
Classification: Arthrodermataceae, Onygenales, Eurotiomycetidae, Eurotiomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi
Ctenomyces serratus was originally thought to be a resting or sclerotial phase of Arthroderma curreyi bearing comb-like appendages. Since the original material was lost, Benjamin (1956) described C. serratus as a separate species, and Orr and Kuehn (1963) indicated a neotype, IMI 86199. The genus Ctenomyces was described as having orange-brown cleistothecia, a peridium composed of a thin layer of densely interwoven hyphae, and ctenoid appendages consisting of thick-walled, asperulate cells. Conidia are verrucose, thick-walled, and lightly pigmented, commonly with ampulliform swelling (Benjamin 1956; Zhang et al. 2019). The habitat of Ctenomyces species is soil enriched with bird feathers (Currah 1985; Zhang et al. 2019); no animal pathology is known. Isolation of known Ctenomyces species involves hair baiting techniques using chicken feathers and human hair, and hence species are probably keratinophilic like other members of the family. Gymnothecia of Ctenomyces species bear characteristic comb-like appendages on the peridia, which Currah (1985) suggested to enhance the adaptation of the fungus to be transported via avian feathers. In addition, ascospores in Ctenomyces are large (mostly > 8 μm in length; Currah 1985; Zhang et al. 2019). Currently, C. albus, C. indicus, C. serratus, C. peltricolor, C. obovatus and C. vellereus have been included in the genus. Zhang et al. (2019) referred to the identification key for Ctenomyces species.
Van Oorschot (1980) introduced Ctenomyces as a sexual morph of Myceliophthora, which was later confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of M. vellerea (van den Brink et al. 2012). In the same study, M. vellerea was found phylogenetically (ITS, TEF1 and RPB2) remote from the type species of the genus M. lutea and was renamed Ctenomyces.
Type species: Ctenomyces serratus Eidam, Beitr. Biol. Pfl. 3: 274 (1880).
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Ctenomyces.
References
Benjamin RK 1956 – Ctenomyces serratus, a new species of keratinophilic fungus. Mycologia 48:720–727.
Currah RS 1985 – Taxonomy of the Onygenales: Arthrodermataceae, Gymnoascaceae, Myxotrichaceae and Onygenaceae. Mycotaxon 24:1–216.
Orr GF, Kuehn HH 1963 – Neotype designation for Ctenomyces serratus. Mycologia 55:108–113.
van Oorschot CAN 1980 – A revision of Chrysosporium and allied genera. Stud Mycol 20:1–89.
Entry by
Hazal Kandemir, Center of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Division of Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey
Published online 25 June 2026