Damon@DamonCrowley@mindly.social
Researchers in India’s Western Ghats discovered a Rao’s intermediate golden-backed frog (Hylarana intermedia) with a Bonnet mushroom (Mycena species) sprouting from its flank, a phenomenon never documented before. Published in the journal "Reptiles and Amphibians", this finding has sparked concern among scientists due to its implications for amphibian health and ecological dynamics.
Typically, Mycena mushrooms grow on decaying wood, feeding on dead organic matter, not living animals. The frog appeared healthy and mobile, but the mushroom’s presence on its skin raises questions about how it took root. Theories suggest a skin injury or embedded organic debris, possibly aided by the humid, monsoon-fed environment, provided a foothold for fungal spores.
This discovery is alarming because amphibians are already vulnerable to fungal infections like chytridiomycosis, caused by "Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis", which has decimated global frog populations by disrupting skin function. While the Mycena mushroom is not closely related to this pathogen, its ability to grow on a living host suggests fungi may adapt to new environments, potentially increasing risks to amphibians.
The frog was not collected for further study, leaving uncertainties about the fungus’s impact or depth of penetration. Scientists are concerned this could signal new ecological threats, especially in biodiverse regions like the Western Ghats.