human health.” Map of the amphibian die-off in Costa Rica and Panama UC Davis The fungus, known as chytrid or Bd (for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), appeared in northwest Costa Rica in the ...

But Bd is an oddball: It has a fanatical taste for the proteins in amphibian skin. In the early 20th century, human activity—such as trade and war—accidentally spread the fungus around the world.

Check out our FAQ about amphibians and reptiles and sign up for email alerts about how you can help save these and other species. Freshwater turtles are also threatened by human persecution, namely by ...

Like many other animals, frogs and toads are suffering greatly from human-related threats, and many species face imminent extinction. Frogs vs. toads "Frog" and "toad" are common names that don't ...

"By comparing the details of a frog's nervous system to a human's, we can see what we don't have and what we have," Sweeney continues. This knowledge can help us understand how the human nervous ...

Toads also are susceptible to chytrid fungus, which has decimated worldwide populations of toads, frogs, and other amphibians. Human handling can spread the lethal pathogen from infected to ...