[1][2] it is a member of the group of fungi known as black yeasts, and is typically found in hot and humid locations, such as saunas, bathrooms, and dishwashers.

[7] When studying samples of E. dermatitidis, Tadahiko Matsumoto and colleagues observed strains with a granular colonial form and distinctive microscopic morphology.

[10][11] Black yeasts are an unrelated category of fungi that share yeast-like morphology and possess darkly melanized cell walls.

[3] Exophilala phaeomuriformis is more sensitive than other black yeasts to salt, incapable of growth at concentrations of sodium chloride exceeding 17%.

[3] Colonies of E. phaeomuriformis are hyaline, mycoid, and smooth when young[9] but become black, dry, crumbly, raised, and mulberry-like in texture with age.

[8] Instead, colonies develop from loosely packed, single, and rounded budding yeast cells that are either scattered or aggregated in groups.

[9] Like other member of the genus Exophiala, E. phaeomuriformis is saprotrophic, obtaining its energy exclusively from non-living organic materials.

[3] The species is plurivorous, occurring on a wide range of materials from contaminated soils and toluene rich environments to wild berries and animal feces.

[14] Exophiala phaeomuriformis is a rare causative agent of phaeohyphomycosis[15] in cutaneous, subcutaneous and deep tissues,[4] and is responsible for 6.4% of infections caused by black yeasts.