Frog Grows Mushroom Baffles Scientific Community

Researchers were astonished to observe a healthy frog with a small mushroom growing from its body, marking the first known instance of such an occurrence in live animal tissue.

While fungal infections are relatively common in small animals, this growth seemed distinct from the parasitic types that typically have detrimental effects on their hosts.

Discovery of Fungus-Adorned Frog Stuns Researchers in India’s Western Ghats

Scientists stumbled upon a Rao’s Intermediate Golden-backed Frog (Hylarana intermedia) adorned with fungus during a nature walk in the foothills of the Kudremukh Range in India’s Western Ghats mountains. Despite its small size, typically ranging from one to two inches in length, this species stands out due to its vibrant coloring.

The notable frog, perched on a twig, caught attention for an unprecedented sight: a single stalked fungus emerging from its left flank, featuring a distinct cap known as a pileus, characteristic of mushrooms. Upon examination, the growth was identified as a bonnet mushroom (Mycena sp.), typically found growing on decaying wood.

Health of Frog with Fungal Growth

However, the researchers observed that the frog seemed healthy and unaffected by the fungal growth, which seemed to be benefiting from the nutrients present on the moist skin of the amphibian. However, they could not determine whether the fungus was beneficial or harmful, as they chose not to collect the frog for further examination.

Moreover, regarding the mushroom, this unconventional habitat might serve as a strategic advantage. The pileus, responsible for spore dispersal, typically relies on wind, water, or chance encounters for propagation. Utilizing a frog as a carrier could aid in spreading these spores, thereby extending the reach of the fungal species and expanding its colony. Alternatively, the researchers humorously speculated about identifying “patient zero” in a potential fungal takeover akin to The Last of Us.

To conclude, “The occurrence of a mushroom sprouting from the flank of a live frog has never been documented to our knowledge,” the team remarked.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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