Ireland escapes frog-killer fungus

above, the smooth newt. There is no evidence the frog-killing chytrid fungus is in Ireland, but we cannot be complacent.

Ireland appears to be free of a parasite that is killing frogs and toads all over the world, says the Herpetological Society of Ireland. The chytrid fungus feeds on keratin, the bio-material of which hair and finger-nails are composed. In water, amphibians absorb oxygen and expel carbon dioxide through pores in the skin. The fungus blocks the pores, preventing the passage of gases and smothering the victim. It also produces toxins that poison. Frogs and toads can be treated in the laboratory, but not in the wild.

The amphibians, the first vertebrates to leave the sea and venture onto land, have been around for 380m years. The tetrapod footprints on Valencia Island, some of the oldest in the world, were made by a member of this ancient tribe. Venturing onto land, but depositing their eggs in water, was a winning formula. The amphibians are successful; they saw the dinosaurs come and go. About 7,000 species remain.