Malassezia pachydermatis is a zoophilic yeast in the division Basidiomycota. It was first isolated in 1925 by Fred Weidman, and has been named pachydermatis Greek for "thick-skin" after the original sample taken from an Indian rhinoceros (Rhinocerosus unicornis) with severe exfoliative dermatis.[2] Within the genus Malassezia, M. pachydermatis is most closely related to the species M. furfur.[3] A commensal fungus, it can be found within the microflora of healthy mammals such as humans, cats and dogs,[4][5] However, it is capable of acting as an opportunistic pathogen under special circumstances and has been seen to cause skin and ear infections, most often occurring in canines.[6][7]