MUSHROOM GROWING ON A FROG

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Picture Courtesy: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/mushroom-growing-on-frog-india-9161001/

Context: A frog with a mushroom-like growth on its side was found in the Western Ghats, India.

Key Highlights

• Scientists found a Rao’s Golden-backed frog in the Western Ghats with a white-coloured growth on its side, identified as a Bonnet mushroom. This marks the first known instance of a mushroom growing on a living frog.
• The discovery took place in a rainwater-fed pond in the foothills of the Kudremukha ranges at Mala, Karkala, Karnataka.
• Instead of capturing the frog, researchers documented the unusual sight with pictures and published their findings in the journal Reptiles and Amphibians.
• Experts identified the white growth as a Bonnet mushroom, a type typically found on dead and rotting wood.
• This event represents the first documented instance of a mushroom growing on a living frog, according to available knowledge.
• Several theories exist about how the mushroom started growing, considering the humid conditions of the Western Ghats. However, the lack of frog capture makes it unclear how the mushroom growth occurred and its impact on the frog.
• Scientists express concern over the discovery, particularly in light of the existing threat posed by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which endangers over 700 amphibian species worldwide.
• Bonnet mushroom expert notes that while the growth resembles a bonnet mushroom, it could be another similar-looking species. Recent findings suggest that Mycena can switch from a symbiotic relationship to a parasitic or decomposer mode.
• Scientists emphasize the need for more information, such as spore and genetic samples, to conclusively identify the mushroom and understand its nature and impact.
• Some experts, including fungal ecologists, express scepticism about whether the growth is indeed a mushroom, calling for more evidence before a conclusive identification.