A pandemic among frogs has been going on worldwide for years—the culprit: a fungal infection that has affected amphibians on nearly every continent. But now, the discovery of a virus that has evolved to replicate inside this fungus could be the key to saving nearly 500 species of frogs that have experienced declines due to […]
Tag: frog
What Can You Do for Wildlife?
We coexist on the planet with 8.7 million other living species. Hence, it is our duty to secure our future generations. They can guarantee that our offspring will experience the same wonders we did. The increasing human population is causing a strain on wildlife. Multiple wildlife habitats are being encroached upon to fill the demand […]
Cannibal tree frogs are invading the US: Human hand-sized amphibians from Cuba have been spotted in Georgia – and officials urge residents to ‘kill them’ on the spot
Cannibal tree frogs from Cuba are invading parts of the US – and wildlife officials are urging people to kill the amphibians on the spot. The warning is due to the human hand-sized frogs eating those native to North America, which would lead to ‘ecological problems.’ The invasive creature also’ secretes an irritating liquid from […]
Invasive, carnivorous frogs are now breeding in Georgia, biologists say
An invasive species of carnivorous tree frogs that feed on native wildlife are now breeding in Georgia, a sign that the amphibians have gained a stronger foothold in the state, biologists say. Cuban treefrogs, Osteopilus septentrionalis, are a mostly canopy-dwelling species native to the Caribbean. It’s unclear exactly when they made the leap across the […]
Study shows dire outlook for amphibians: 40% threatened with extinction
The Tepequém frog (Anomaloglossus tepequem) used to be seen in abundance in streams in the Serra do Tepequém, in the state of Roraima. Endemic to Brazil and this specific locality, found only here and nowhere else on the planet, it is believed to have disappeared from the wild. This Amazonian species has never been seen […]
Leap in the dark: On a mission to rescue the Caribbean’s biggest frog
A rescue mission is under way in the Caribbean to save one of the world’s largest—and rarest—frogs from extinction. Measuring as much as 20 centimeters from snout to rear and weighing up to a kilo, the mountain chicken—named for its reputedly tasty flesh—is a frog in freefall. And, these days, hunting for its meat is […]
Frogs’ Fluorescence May Be a Way of Communicating
Once thought to be a rare occurrence among terrestrial animals, fluorescence is more widespread than scientists once thought. Frogs’ fluorescence was first discovered in 2017. Before that, scientists were not aware that some of these amphibians were biofluorescent. Biofluorescence has to do with light wavelengths. According to a report published in the scientific journal Nature, […]
In Bangladesh, microplastic threat to frogs is also concern for rice farming
DHAKA — Studies on the hazards of microplastics have tended to focus on their presence in the food chain and risks to human health. A new study now shows they also pose a threat to the quality of freshwater environments by impacting a wide range of frog species. The study of 27 frogs from nine […]