Multiple diseases threaten reptile and amphibian populations in our modern age. One notable example in snakes is ophidiomycosis, commonly called Snake Fungal Disease (SFD). It is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. The disease can cause crusting, ulcers, swelling, abnormal shedding, and other skin lesions, and severe cases can contribute to emaciation or death. Researchers now know that the pathogen and disease have a longer and broader history than early reports suggested. SFD is well documented in wild snakes in North America, and the fungus has also been detected in free-ranging snakes in Europe. Its full geographic and host distribution continues to be studied, so a printed state-by-state count becomes obsolete quickly.
This lesson is part of Certified Herpetological Guide. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 50 hours).
