Australian frog is rediscovered after 17 years

From Wikinews, the free news source you can write!
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A species of treefrog that was three years from being declared extinct was found in July in the tropical northeast of Australia. A local university Ph.D. candidate, Robert Puschendorf, along with volunteer researchers stumbled upon the armoured mistfrog (Litoria lorica) while surveying a related species near Mareeba, Queensland. The researchers thought they were catching a similar torrent treefrog (Litoria nannotis), until they examined a specimen more closely.

The Associated Press reported that PCR lab results showed that the mistfrogs were not unaffected by the devastating {{w|chytridiomycosis]], a pandemic disease affecting almost all frog species. Remarkably, they may actually be immune to fatal effects of the fungal infection. Puschendorf plans to publish a paper on the new findings of this Lazarus species.


Sources

Wikinews
Wikinews
This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.
Wikinews
Wikinews
This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.