Amphibians are not the only herps fighting a fungus. Snakes have one too. The disease is called ophidiomycosis (oh-FID-ee-oh-my-KOH-sis), or Snake Fungal Disease, SFD for short. It is caused by a fungus called Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. Infected snakes get crusty, swollen, sore patches on their skin, especially the face, and they shed badly. In serious cases the snake stops eating, wastes away, and dies. Scientists now know the fungus has been around longer, and in more places, than the first reports suggested. SFD is well documented in wild snakes across North America, and the fungus has turned up in wild snakes in Europe.
This lesson is part of Certified Junior Herpetologist. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 30 hours).
