“A new study delving into how [a deadly] fungus spreads has now linked chytrid outbreaks in California—one of the more recent areas experiencing huge amphibian die-offs—to the spread of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis).”
More happy endangered frog news: “the endangered limosa harlequin frog (Atelopus limosus) has been bred in captivity for the first time. This unbelievably groovy-looking character is native to the tropical lowland forests of eastern Panama.”
Read more here from Mother Jones.
“Transparency is…useful as a means of camouflage in habitats where an escape from visual predators is otherwise impossible, such as the open ocean, which lacks structures to match or hide behind.”
See more images from Treehugger.
“Racing regulators kept hearing the reports: trainers were giving their horses a powerful performance-enhancing potion drawn from the backs of a type of South American frog.
But for months postrace testing could not find the substance, a painkiller far more powerful than morphine. Then a lab in the Denver area tweaked its testing procedure, and in recent days more than 30 horses from four states have tentatively tested positive for the substance, dermorphin, which is suspected of helping horses run faster.
No trainer has yet been formally charged, though racing regulators expect that to happen soon. Because of its potency and ability to affect the outcome of a race, the use of dermorphin is considered one of the industry’s most serious drug violations.
“We hear about some pretty exotic stuff,” said Dr. Steven Barker, who directs the testing laboratory at Louisiana State University. “Frog juice — this is exotic.”
“A new bright yellow frog species has been found in the mountains of western Panama. The frog belongs to a species-rich group of frogs, the so-called rainfrogs that lack a tadpole stage, but develop directly as little frogs inside the egg.”
![African Clawed Frog Spreads Deadly Amphibian Fungus
“A new study delving into how [a deadly] fungus spreads has now linked chytrid outbreaks in California—one of the more recent areas experiencing huge amphibian die-offs—to the spread of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis).”](http://25.media.tumblr.com/71d83d27a13c8dda5ba2cc1f91037b02/tumblr_mmv5ohuo8O1r3clqao1_500.jpg)
