The watercolour painting by artist Amanda Hyatt depicts five frogs, Litoria infrafrenata (white-lipped tree frog —1), Litoria dahlii (northern waterfrog; Dahl's frog —2), Rana muscosa (mountain yellow-legged frog —3), Taudactylus acutirostris (sharp-snouted torrent frog —4), and Bufo periglenes (golden toad —5), all of which have been reported to be infected with the chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Of these, Bd has been associated with the extinction of Taudactylus acu-tirostris; the demise of Bufo periglenes is still being debated.

Image: Amanda Hyatt

Chytridiomycosis is the most formidable infectious disease known to infect amphibians. It has the potential of causing sporadic deaths in some populations, and 100% mortality in others. Since the mid 1990s the causative agent Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been identified, sampling protocols and diagnostic assays developed, surveys conducted, investigations into treatment and management and control undertaken.