Deadly soil fungal pathogen threatening Australia’s reptiles

3 Mar 2026
UQ PhD candidate Sam Gallagher-Becker and Associate Professor Celine Frere with a water dragon in Brisbane.
UQ PhD candidate Sam Gallagher-Becker and Associate Professor Celine Frere with a water dragon in Brisbane. 

University of Queensland researchers say Australia’s reptiles are at risk of extinction because a little understood fungus is infecting species through the environment.

Associate Professor Celine Frere from UQ’s School of Environment said Nannizziopsis barbatae caused fungal skin lesions and lethargy, leading to reptile starvation and eventual death.

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