Symptoms of the terminal stages of chytridiomycosis include the half-closed eyes and generally depressed attitude seen in this frog, and an accumulation of cast-off skin (the greyish crescent shape near the top rear end of the frog). Photo: Lee Berger.
Chytridiomycosis is an infectious disease that affects amphibians worldwide. It is caused by the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), a fungus capable of causing sporadic deaths in some amphibian populations and 100 per cent mortality in others.
The disease has been implicated in the mass die-offs and species extinctions of frogs since the 1990s, but its origin and true impact on frog populations remains uncertain and continues to be investigated.
Key threatening process
The disease caused by amphibian chytrid fungus disease is listed as a key threatening processes under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Threat abatement plan
A threat abatement plan has been prepared to provide a national strategy to manage the impact on biodiversity