Mosquitofish joins gang that threatens amphibians

Add a ravenous little fish to the “gang” that is wiping out amphibian populations. The other members of the gang are chytrd fungus, habitat loss, pollution, and global warming. Read about the tadpole gulping mosquitofish in this story from San Mateo County Times. Excerpt:

The scrappy little mosquitofish, the pit bull of ichthyology and the region’s leading defense against West Nile virus, is a savior to insect-infested waters.

Unless you’re a frog.

Yes, the fish dines on larval mosquitoes, as intended. But scientists have learned it also has an appetite for the tadpoles of frogs, toads and other amphibians — including the threatened red-legged frog and the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander.

 

The ugly American bullfrog

Here’s a frog species that’s thriving, but unfortunately so much so that it’s threatening other amphibian species. As the story mentions, “It’s a frog eat frog world.” Click below for the story out of Canada — that the American bullfrog is one of the world’s 100 most invasive species. Parental warning: the story is a little gruesome:

Culling Kermit, One Zap at a Time (story)