GlenysOne of Australia's 'extinct' frogs found!
September 12th 2008 00:15
Well, this one is close to my heart - i apologise for yet another 'lost animal found' post, but since my co-workers found this one, i can't help it!
A number of rare, endemic rainforest frogs in Australia have been missing, presumed extinct, since the early 1990's. These declines are thought to be due to the chytrid fungus, and also habitat loss.
One such frog is Litoria lorica, the armoured mist frog, not seen in 17 years.
But James Cook University student Rob Pushendorf recently found a healthy population of these frogs, living quite a distance from their previously known range.
Although many of the frogs seem to have the fungus, they appear to be coping with it.
This finding offers hope for the other 'lost frogs' of North Queensland and suggests that species can cope with chytrid fungus in the long term.
A number of rare, endemic rainforest frogs in Australia have been missing, presumed extinct, since the early 1990's. These declines are thought to be due to the chytrid fungus, and also habitat loss.
One such frog is Litoria lorica, the armoured mist frog, not seen in 17 years.
But James Cook University student Rob Pushendorf recently found a healthy population of these frogs, living quite a distance from their previously known range.
Although many of the frogs seem to have the fungus, they appear to be coping with it.
This finding offers hope for the other 'lost frogs' of North Queensland and suggests that species can cope with chytrid fungus in the long term.
The armoured mist frog - lost for 17 years (copyright - Rob Pushendorf)
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