Statistics released by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) suggest that a rare species of giant chicken frog is facing extinction due to a deadly amphibian-killing fungus. The frog’s scientific name is Atelopus alligatori, and it is found in Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, and a few other countries in the Amazon Basin.
The giant chicken frog is one of the world’s smallest amphibians, measuring just five centimeters in length and weighing a mere two grams. It gets its name from its large head and broad, flattened snout which resembles that of a chicken. Its back is brownish-green in color and its underside is yellow.
The fungus that is threatening the frog, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is commonly known as Bd, or chytrid fungus. It is a type of zoosporic fungus, which means it is capable of growing inside living organisms without causing any harm. However, Bd is very rare in the wild and only appears in the presence of certain environmental stresses, such as climate change, pollution, and deforestation.
When Bd infects an amphibian, it destroys the frog’s skin layer, which is an essential organ for amphibian respiration, reproduction, and the regulation of water and electrolyte balance. This damage to the frog’s skin often leads to internal organ failure and death.
In 2010, the IUCN declared the giant chicken frog to be critically endangered due to Bd, and the situation has continued to get worse since then. Researchers have recently discovered that the frogs are dying off faster than they had previously believed, and the species could go extinct in the next few decades if decisive action is not taken.
The only way to ensure the continued survival of the species is to protect their habitats and monitor the spread of Bd across the region. Scientists, conservationists, and local communities must come together to implement the necessary measures in order to save the giant chicken frog before it is too late.