Fresh Science

Deadly fungus damages frog skin during shedding The deadly chytrid fungal infection, affecting more than 500 species worldwide, challenges our ongoing attempts to conserve our fragile native frog species. Frogs shed their skin normally around every three to four days, but increase the rate of shedding in the presence of skin diseases to try and…

Peering inside the body of tadpoles to understand the impacts of elemental contaminants Human activities, such as mining and agriculture, release a large number and amount of heavy metals and other toxic elements that can harm wildlife into our waterways. Chantal Lanctot’s (Griffith University) research looks at how these contaminants accumulate in and impact native frogs.…

Tree frogs defy the trend of urban decline Central Melbourne used to be a Mecca for frogs, but now there is only one species left. Southern brown tree frogs can still be heard calling to attract females for mating in parks throughout inner Melbourne, including the Royal Botanic Gardens and Fitzroy Gardens. A survey conducted…

Some remarkable Australian burrowing frogs can tolerate months of inactivity without their muscles wasting away – unlike a bedridden patient whose muscle size decreases dramatically.