THE STAR (Johannesburg, S Africa) 29 September 06 SA fungus could wipe out island frogs (Shaun Smillie)
Madagascar is known as an amphibian paradise, but a plague could be coming that will wipe out scores of already endangered frogs.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a fungus better known as amphibian chytrid, is believed to have its origins in South Africa. Globally, it is linked to the extinction of at least 100 frog species.
The African Amphibian Research Group at North-West University went to the island to search for signs of the fungus among its frogs. They found no trace of it.
"One would think that this is good but it would have been better if we had found traces of the fungus, as is the situation here in South Africa," said the group's Professor Louis du Preez. The reason, he said, was that in South Africa there was evidence that local amphibians had built up a certain immunity to chytrid.
He said chytrid's inevitable arrival in Madagascar was likely to be devastating.
Du Preez explained: "About 25 percent of Madagascar's more than 250 frog species are endangered. If chytrid got in there it would wipe out species in a short period of time."
SA fungus could wipe out island frogs