A species of tree frog just went extinct at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The last member of the species known to be alive has died. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution stated that the last Rabbs’ tree frog was discovered dead on September 28th. The name of the male frog was Toughie and its age was estimated at 12 years old. Men of science claim that almost 50% of amphibian species are threatened by extinction.
- Scientists have first discovered Rabb’s tree frogs back in 2005.
- The Atlanta Botanical Garden has revealed Toughie’s death on September 28th.
This Botanical Garden bought and equipped a facility called the Frog Pod, meant to have the proper climate for the amphibians kept in isolation. The other Rabbs’ frog tree which lived at the Atlanta Botanical Garden had died back in 2012. This species was named and discovered by the scientists from Zoo Atlanta and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. These tree frogs were found to inhabit the mountain slopes situated above El Valle de Anton in Central Panama.
The amphibian frogs were named after Mary and George Rabb, who were amphibian conservationists. This tree frog species was first discovered by Dr. Joseph Mendelson and his team when they were on a field expedition in Panama, in 2005. Then, they have revealed that a pathogen known as the amphibian chytrid fungus was threatening the population of the amphibians.
The president of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Mary Pat Matheson, asserted that the field of science did not get a better chance analyze this amazing little creature in its natural habitat in greater depth. The disease, which had attacked the Rabbs’ frog tree, has destroyed its home causing the species to vanish.
Since 2005, the fungus has annihilated many amphibian species. This animal has not been seen in its natural habitat since 2007. Experts became alarmed when they have found out many frog species are endangered to become extinct.
Toughie is believed to be one of the luckiest tree frogs to be discovered, having gotten the chance to live a long life at the Botanical Garden in Atlanta. The amphibian frog made it out of Panama and survived its transportation to the place that became its home for 11 years. If the amphibian hadn’t been discovered in time, it would have died before reaching maturity. The chytrid fungus vanished 85% of the amphibians living in the wild.
Do you think that scientists need to take a better care of these endangered animals to keep them safe from extinction? Do you believe there is something that can be done to avoid the loss of these species?
Image source: wikipedia
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