Skin-eating fungus threatens European salamanders

The fungus, once it gains a foothold, causes necrosis of the salamander's skin, basically eating the creature away. European salamanders possess no defenses against the foreign pathogen, which has spread due to trade in amphibians from Asia.

Many Asian salamanders and newts carry the fungus, but don't become sick. Like the Japanese fire belly newt pictured above, Asian species have adapted resistance to the fungus over the course of evolution. But rapid change in environment, brought on by global trade, has prevented European salamanders from adjusting.

In 2010, in the Netherlands, a sudden mass die-off of fire salamanders alerted researchers to the fungus. By 2013, the population had dwindled to a mere 10 salamanders, which were taken into captivity to develop treatment. Belgian scientists infected 35 species of amphibian with spores, and found that almost all European and North American salamander and newt species were highly susceptible.

This Alpine salamander is also helpless against Batrachochytrum salamandrivorans. The Belgian researchers believe that it may also die out soon. An Martel of the University of Ghent writes in the journal "Science" that the situation is more serious than imagined.

Frogs, toads and skinks have proven immune to the salamander-eating fungus. But frogs in many parts of the world are fighting the closely related Batrachochytrum dendrobatidis. This fungus has been responsible for massive reductions in frog populations in tropical and subtropical regions.

In past years, more than 200 species of amphibian have gone extinct around the world. The fungus has played a role in nearly all these cases. But other factors are also important - since amphibians breathe through their skin, they are especially sensitive to chemicals in the environment, such as pesticides.