Chytrid Fungus

The disease known as chytridiomycosis results when a chytridiomycete fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis "chytrid" attacks keratin in the skin tissue of amphibians. Many researchers believe that this infectious fungus inhibits the frog s ability to respire and osmoregulate eventually killing the frog. Amphibian chytrid fungus has been implicated in amphibian declines in the Americas Caribbean and Australia and its range continues to grow. Amphibian chytrid is not the only cause of amphibian decline but is a likely explanation for unexplained declines in high-altitude protected regions and may hasten the collapse of populations weakened by other threats such as habitat destruction climate change and water and air pollution.