The peculiar marine phycomycete Atkinsiella dubia from crab eggs

Summary Atkinsiella dubia (Atkins) Vishniac has been found doubtfully parasitic in eggs of various crabs in the vicinity of Friday Harbor laboratories.Its morphology and development are followed in pure culture on nutrient media. The peculiarity of the sequential transformation of the intricate lobed thallus contents into a zoosporangium and of the similar development of the zoospores themselves is pointed out. The thallus itself is sometimes holo-sometimes encarpic. Resemblances of Atkinsiella to Eurychasma, a parasite of marine algae are pointed out.