In the foothills of the Western Ghats in the Indian state of Karnataka, Indian scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of a frog with a mushroom growing on the side of its body.
This is the first known case of a fungus growing from a living creature. While conducting research, the scientists discovered several 'Rao's Golden-backed Frogs' in a roadside rainwater-fed pond in the foothills of the Kudremukha ranges in Karnataka.
They came across a strange sight - a frog with a mysterious white growth protruding from its right side.
According to a study published in the journal 'Reptiles and Amphibians', fungal experts analysed the frog's photos and identified the white growth as a bonnet fungus, which usually grows on dead and rotting wood.
There are many theories as to the origins of the mushroom's growth, especially given the ideal humid conditions of the Western Ghats that would favour its development.
The growth of the fungus and its effect on the frog remain a mystery, as the elusive frog managed to evade capture.
Frog with Mushroom Growing on Its Body in India Baffles Scientists
© Photo : Lohit Y.T