Cryptococcus skinneri is species of yeast which forms white and cream colored colonies which are smooth with a mucoid texture. No hyphae are present and it reproduces by budding. The individual cells are round and oval in shape. The formation of starch and urea has been observed. It will grow at 25 degrees Celsius up to 30 degrees Celsius in some cases. Herman Phaff described C. skinneri in 1962 from the frass of Scolytus tsugae feeding on Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)