North American bullfrogs are helping to wipe out their European relatives, albeit unwittingly. Worldwide trade in the live frogs for their legs seems to be spreading a lethal fungal infection. It has already killed off amphibians in Australia and South America. Now it鈥檚 sweeping the Mediterranean basin.
A quarter of amphibians that live around this biodiversity hotspot are under threat of extinction, according the World Conservation Union鈥檚 latest regional Red List. Over half of the basin鈥檚 106 frogs, toads and salamanders are unique and one, the painted frog, is now officially extinct. Worldwide, almost one-third of the world鈥檚 5918 amphibians are now threatened with extinction.
As elsewhere, disappearing wetlands and pollution of what remains are the main culprits behind the animals鈥� demise. European amphibians, though, are also besieged by the chytridiomycosis fungal disease that is sweeping the world. It could now hasten the end of Europe鈥檚 midwife toad, famed for carrying its eggs until they hatch, and the fire salamander, which Aristotle erroneously believed could resist flames.
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The region鈥檚 355 reptiles fare only slightly better. Forty-six species face extinction, and some whole groups are in bad shape. Two of the Mediterranean鈥檚 five land tortoises are critically endangered, while snakes, in addition to losing their habitat, are being persecuted by people and run over by cars.
