News Animals

Tiny saunas help frogs fight off chytrid fungus

A warm space that raises body temperature could help some amphibians beat deadly infections

Green and gold bell frogs sit in holes in bricks in the sun.

Green and gold bell frogs warm up inside a brick shelter. These tiny saunas could help the frogs fight off chytrid fungal infections, new research suggests.

A. Waddle

By Skyler Ware

Frogs fighting a deadly fungal infection could get a boost from tiny brick saunas.

By spending time in a sun-warmed shelter, green and golden bell frogs infected with chytrid (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) warmed up enough to fight off the fungal pathogen, researchers report June 26 in Nature.