Onygenalean Dermatomycoses (Formerly Yellow Fungus Disease, Snake Fungal Disease) in Reptiles

Paré: The term “yellow fungus disease” is obsolete. The actual fungus is white in culture, not yellow. The name yellow fungus disease was likely coined because of the presence of unshed skin tags, which tend to be yellowish, on affected bearded dragons (Pogona spp.). Another rumor had the name yellow fungus coined when bright yellow slime mold (Physarum sp.) was found sprawling on substrate within enclosures in which a bearded dragon with skin lesions was, or had been, housed. Irrespective of its origin, the name is inaccurate and misleading. Much better is to ascribe a specific fungus to an infection, for example, Nannizziopsis guarroi infection or mycosis or Paranannizziopsis australasiensis infection or mycosis. A practical alternative is to name the infection after the fungal genus, as in ophidiomycosis, but some argue this terminology risks becoming obsolete or inaccurate if and when the nomenclature for a fungus changes or...