2024-02-21 05:00:04
In the green mountainous regions of the Western Ghats in India, a scientific expedition set out to discover the biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles. But what should have been a simple exploration turned into an extraordinary observation, challenging our notions of symbiosis between flora and fauna.
Among the frogs spotted during this excursion, one in particular attracted the attention of researchers. Perched on a twig, it had a surprising feature: a tiny mushroom grew on its side. A vision as unusual as it is fascinating for the scientific team.
This frog, identified as a Hylarana intermedia, is a native species of the region. Scientists took pictures of this strange association between the amphibian and the fungus, quickly sharing their findings in a study published in Reptiles and Amphibians.
As with bacteria, many types of fungi coexist with most living creatures. However, unlike human skin where fungi grow on the surface, the presence of a real fungus (the fleshy fruit of the fungus) on a living animal is a novel observation for science.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of specimens collected, the exact nature of this fungal growth remains subject to conjecture. Researchers wonder if the fungus filaments penetrated the frog’s skin or if it is just a superficial growth.
This discovery has aroused keen interest among scientists and nature enthusiasts. Photos of the frog were compared to those of fungi of the genus Mycena, usually found on rotting wood. The presence of this fungus on a living amphibian poses a fascinating enigma: how could it have developed on the frog? Is it harmless or pathogenic? Questions to which scientists are still seeking answers with only the visual data at their disposal.
Although this growth appears to be harmless, other fungi are known to be much less friendly toward their hosts. Chytridiomycosis, for example, caused by a fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been linked to a massive decline in amphibian populations. In this case, only more in-depth studies, and possibly a second observation, will be able to lift the veil on this unique specimen of its kind.
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