Tuesday, June 2, 2009

This frog (a Growling Grass Frog) is being held by frog expert Ray Draper, who has been testing this species of frog for Chytrid Fungus across the SW of Victoria. For each frog tested (handled) a new pair of gloves is worn to ensure that we are not passing the fungus from one individual to another. To test them a cotton bud is used and it is simply rubbed over an area of skin and a swab taken and analysed. It only takes a few moments and the frog is released straight back into its habitat. The actual test costs $30 for each swab. This is being done to try and track the progress of the disease as it is decimating frog numbers both here and other places around the world. Even though this frog looked healthly it may have been carrying the fungus. (It takes a certain set of conditions to enable it to become active on the frogs- but we dont understand what they are as yet. Once it is active it causes the eventual death of the frog by suffocating it.) This photo was taken at a WaterWatch educational day organised by the Corangamite CMA.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Chris
Your photos of the frogs are fabulous. I am so glad you were there to capture those images. I am going to let others know about them.
Dee

Anonymous said...

The information you include with your images is very informative and adds more value to the subject.Anne

Anonymous said...

Your photo is great and text informative.
Ray