Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Aussies Find 'Extinct' Bell Frog

Amphibian was thought to be wiped out in 1970s by fungus

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 4, 2010 12:33 PM CST

(Newser) – The yellow-spotted bell frog was thought to be wiped out in the 1970s when a deadly fungus invaded its native Australian habitat—until now. That’s right—the “extinct” species has been discovered in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, alive and well. “It was quite amazing,” a researcher tells the Sydney Morning Herald. “This frog was just waiting there to be found.”

Now that the discovery has been confirmed—perhaps 100 of the frogs are living on a stream in farmland—some tadpoles have been relocated to the Taronga Zoo to breed. “If it has a predisposition to being resistant to this fungus,” a government conservationist says, “that will afford it much greater protection when we start putting it elsewhere.” The environment minister is even more enthusiastic. “This is the equivalent of discovering the Tasmanian tiger, in terms of amphibians.”

A pair of Yellow-spotted Bell Frogs in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales state of Australia.
A pair of Yellow-spotted Bell Frogs in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales state of Australia.   (AP Photo)
A Yellow-spotted Bell Frog is captured in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales state of Australia.
A Yellow-spotted Bell Frog is captured in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales state of Australia.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
4%
19%
4%
60%
8%
4%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
blues_junky
Mar 5, 2010 3:18 AM CST
"un-croaked"

I like the way this guy thinks.
finkster
Mar 4, 2010 9:53 PM CST
Isn't being extinct and being discovered an oxymoron?
CHRiSTFELD
Mar 4, 2010 8:38 PM CST
Right now a Retardlican somewhere is sputtering "See, this proves [something]!"

More Newser Stories

Aussies Warm to Snarling, Vanishing Tasmanian Devil

Next Mass Extinction Looms

Teen Slain by Facebook 'Friend': Cops

Koalas Face Extinction by Climate, Chlamydia?

5 Guilty of Plotting Aussie Terror Attacks


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne