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Deadly fungus strikes mountain chicken

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Friday 20th March 2009

Male mountain chicken

In recent years a virulent fungal disease has been spreading around the world, leaving vast populations of amphibians decimated in its wake. The latest victim of the chytrid fungus' onslaught is a key population of one of the world's largest species of frog, the mountain chicken (Leptodactylus fallax), on the eastern Caribbean island of Montserrat. In 2002 chytridiomycosis swept through the island of Dominica, wiping out almost the entire local population of this Critically Endangered species. Conservationists had hoped to prevent the fungus from spreading to Montserrat, home to the only population of mountain chicken outside of Dominica, and, until now, one of the only Caribbean islands to have escaped the disease. Sadly, it has now been confirmed that the fungus has finally reached the island, with dozens of frogs having already contracted the disease and died.

Prior to the arrival of the fungal disease, hunting of this ill-fated frog for its chicken-like meat (hence the name), had already had a significant impact on populations on both Dominica and Montserrat. This was compounded by widespread habitat loss due to agriculture, human settlement and tourism, and on Montserrat, a series of destructive volcanic eruptions. With little hope of the already diminished wild populations on Montserrat surviving the latest assault, a team of scientists are planning to transfer the remaining healthy frogs into an existing captive breeding program. The eventual aim will be to return some of the frogs to wild, fungus-free areas over the next few years.

Although unknown until the late 1990s, the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has now been recorded in amphibian populations on every amphibian-inhabited continent. Some species appear to be immune, but many have now disappeared forever, while others cling precipitously to survival. Of any country in the world, Australia has the most infected species. Below is a selection of some of the Australian frog species threatened by this lethal disease.

Green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea)

image: Green and golden bell frog in water

Once one of the most abundant frogs in south-east Australia, the green and golden bell frog has undergone a serious decline and disappeared from large areas of its former range. Although many factors are attributed to its decline, chytridiomycosis appears likely to have led to at least some, and perhaps most, of the major declines observed through the 1970s and 1980s.

Corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree)

The corroboree frog is a highly distinctive and once abundant species that has undergone a rapid decline in recent years. It is widely accepted that the chytrid fungus is the major cause of its decline.

Torrent tree frog (Litoria nannotis)

Like many other Australian frogs, the torrent tree frog occupies a fraction of its former range, despite inhabiting a large protected area. Given the lack of disturbance to its habitat, the chytrid fungus is believed to be principally responsible for this species declining population.

Visit MyARKive to see a selection of videos and images in the Threatened Frogs scrapbook