Deadly Skin Fungus Threatening European Amphibians
- 10 years ago
A fungus is being spread to newts and salamanders throughout Europe that's threatening the well-being of different species.
Salamanders and newts in Europe are being threatened by a skin-eating fungus.
The parasitic fungus, known as Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, or "B. sal," was first discovered in 2013 when it killed all but 10 fire salamanders in the Netherlands.
It doesn't appear to affect frogs or toads, but if a salamander catches it, the animal dies within weeks.
The fungus eats away at the animal's skin, which aids in its breathing.
A study was conducted collectively by an international team of researchers including from London, Belgium and the Netherlands.
They tested more than 5,000 amphibians, from at least 35 species, spanning four continents.
It's believed that the fungus may have originated in Asia, because the salamanders from this area seem almost immune to the disease.
The disease may have been coexisting with Asian newts and salamanders for 30 million years, leaving them unaffected.
It's theorized that the fungus has traveled to other continents by the pet trade, and unfortunately few mitigation controls are in place to prevent it from spreading.
So far, B. sal hasn't reached the United States, a country with the largest biodiversity of salamanders in the world.
Salamanders and newts in Europe are being threatened by a skin-eating fungus.
The parasitic fungus, known as Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, or "B. sal," was first discovered in 2013 when it killed all but 10 fire salamanders in the Netherlands.
It doesn't appear to affect frogs or toads, but if a salamander catches it, the animal dies within weeks.
The fungus eats away at the animal's skin, which aids in its breathing.
A study was conducted collectively by an international team of researchers including from London, Belgium and the Netherlands.
They tested more than 5,000 amphibians, from at least 35 species, spanning four continents.
It's believed that the fungus may have originated in Asia, because the salamanders from this area seem almost immune to the disease.
The disease may have been coexisting with Asian newts and salamanders for 30 million years, leaving them unaffected.
It's theorized that the fungus has traveled to other continents by the pet trade, and unfortunately few mitigation controls are in place to prevent it from spreading.
So far, B. sal hasn't reached the United States, a country with the largest biodiversity of salamanders in the world.