Excerpt: "Frogs do not usually inspire national pride, but the coqui drew a large crowd, including Puerto Rican-born zoo visitors last week when the Bronx Zoo unveiled its newest exhibit. The chirping frogs are an unofficial symbol of Puerto Rico, which is their only native habitat.
Cultural connection aside, bringing the frogs to the zoo was important because amphibians are rapidly dying in the wild from a lethal fungus. The fungus, Chytrid, kills amphibians within two days of exposure by attacking their skin. Because amphibians use their skin for respiration, their breathing is severely compromised by the disease. Scientists say the fungus is most likely transmitted directly from frogs to tadpoles or through infected water."
- afreytes
bronxbeat.org
4/13/08
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