The salamander population had dropped to 4% of its original level

Sep 3, 2013 19:46 GMT  ·  By
Researchers say a new species of skin-eating fungus is wiping out fire salamanders in the Netherlands
   Researchers say a new species of skin-eating fungus is wiping out fire salamanders in the Netherlands

A previously undocumented species of skin-eating fungus is now said to be the reason why the fire salamander population in the Netherlands has dropped to just 4% of its original level since 2010 until present day.

Researchers have identified this new species of fungus by analyzing skin samples collected from fire salamanders that have been showing up dead in this part of the world over the past few years.

The species has been named Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, the Alpha Galileo Foundation tells us.

Specialists theorize that, since the fungus hit the fire salamander population in the Netherlands pretty much out of the blue, it cannot be native to these lands.

On the contrary, it must have arrived in this part of the world from some other place.

“It is a complete mystery why we are seeing this outbreak now, and one explanation is that the new salamander-killing fungus has invaded the Netherlands from elsewhere in the world.”

“We need to know if this is the case, why it is so virulent, and what its impact on amphibian communities will be on a local and global scale,” warns Professor Matthew Fisher from the Imperial College London.