Green Tree-Frogs in Queensland & NSW - Death by Chytrid Fungus

The dreaded chytrid fungus is believed to be responsible for the mysterious deaths of growing numbers of Green Tree-Frogs in Queensland and NSW. Dead and dying frogs have been reported from as far north as Yeppoon in Queensland to south of Sydney. While the fungus is known to favour colder weather, a substantial concentration of deaths have not been noted previously in this species, a favourite of Australian frog enthusiasts. The frog in the image above was found this morning in the driveway of a friend at Marcoola on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Like many other reported casualties, it was in the open during the day, its legs slightly splayed, and close to death. Underneath it was bright pinkish-red, a feature being noted consistently in dead frogs reported elsewhere. Chytrid fungus attacks parts of a frog's skin that have keratin in them; frogs breath through their skin so they are effectively suffocated. The fungus also damages the nervous system. It is widespread around the world and believed to be native in Australia, but what factors trigger deadly outbreaks from time to time are not known. Chytrid wiped out several species of frog in the late-1970s that lived in mountain rainforest streams in Queensland, including the remarkable Gastric-brooding Frog (below). Hundreds of frog species around the world have been impacted.

Australian Museum biologist Jodi Rowley told the ABC this week: "We're hoping this is just a temporary thing and as soon as the weather warms up the frogs will be able to bounce back, but we are pretty alarmed. This is particularly alarming because you don't often see a dead frog – they decompose pretty quickly - so when you do see them you know that there's probably more of them around and we're very worried."

Last week, the Queensland Frog Society posted an alert on its Facebook page of reports of sick and dead Green Tree-Frogs. Within 24 hours, the society had received 50 reports from Queensland and NSW, like the one above from Scotts Head, NSW. The following are samples: “Found one on my verandah at Nana Glen near Coffs Harbour NSW. He was red and stiff and could barely breathe. Very sad." / “One in my shower drain looked brown on his back. I tried saving one on the patio, put him in the [frog] hotel and was dead by morning.” / “We've also been finding dead frogs on our property. We are located in Junction Hill just north of Grafton NSW. We've noticed that it is all ages of frogs from young ones to some of our oldest that we've had here for approx 8yrs. “ / “Emptied a half dozen at least out of tank strainer.” / “I found 2 dead in Casino NSW. Thought it was so weird they were red in colour.” / “I lost one of my frogs… red legs splayed out in my Moss pot. Poor fella. Yeppoon. Central Queensland. July.” Below is what a healthy Green Tree-Frog looks like.