Frogs and toads, already under enormous pressure from the ravages of the Chytrid fungus, have a new threat to contend with. Scientists in the U.K. have discovered a new parasite that attacks tadpoles. Protists, single-celled microorganisms that store genetic information in a nucleus, act as a parasite for tadpoles, entering into their livers, and killing off huge numbers of the amphibious larvae. With the loss of so many tadpoles, the disease can rapidly cause a decline in amphibian populations.

"We now need to figure out if this novel microbe—a distant relative of oyster parasites—causes significant disease and could be contributing to the frog population declines" - Thomas Richards, University of Exeter

Tadpoles from six countries across three continents were tested and the previously unidentified parasite was present in tadpole livers in both tropical and temperate sites, and across all continents tested.

To read the press release from the University of Exeter, click here. kingsnake.com gallery photo by user retnaburner