A mushroom grew on the side of a frog in what is thought to be the first documented case.
The discovery was made by hobbyist naturalists Chinmay Maliye and Lohit Y.T., who found a Rao's intermediate golden-backed frog (Indosylvirana intermedia) with a small grey mushroom sprouting from its left flank in the foothills of the Kudremukha Ranges, India.
A mushroom grew on the side of a frog, in what is thought to be the first documented case. The discovery was made by hobbyist naturalists Chinmay Maliye and Lohit Y.T., who found a Rao's intermediate golden-backed frog (Indosylvirana intermedia) with a small grey mushroom sprouting from its left flank in the foothills of the Kudremukha Ranges, India.
The fungal hitchhiker resembled a type of bonnet mushroom called Mycena
Mycelia are threadlike cells that absorb nutrients, not unlike a plant's root. If they find enough nutrients, the fungus can produce a mushroom
Accuracy
Frog skin is normally pretty good at keeping invaders out, so experts think something like an injury or an infection may have inadvertently let it in.
Amphibian and mushroom experts took a look at the report and concluded that it may be just a case of the little mushroom finding its foothold on the frog.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it implies the mushroom growing on the frog's back was a result of some sort of symbiotic relationship between fungi and amphibians. However, this is not supported by any scientific evidence presented in the article. The author also uses sensational language such as 'a tiny mushroom erupting from a living frog', which creates an emotional response in readers without providing any context or explanation for how this could be possible.
The article implies that the mushroom growing on the frog's back was a result of some sort of symbiotic relationship between fungi and amphibians. However, this is not supported by any scientific evidence presented in the article.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an example of a fallacy called 'appeals to authority'. The author cites the discovery of the mushroom on a frog as evidence that fungi and amphibians are friends. However, this is not supported by any scientific research or evidence presented in the article.
The discovery of a mushroom growing out of an intermediate golden-backed frog was considered proof that fungi and amphibians are friends.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The article discusses the growth of a mushroom on the back of a frog. The author Jude Coleman has multiple conflicts of interest related to this topic.
The discovery was made in a small pond in the foothills of the Kudremukha Ranges, India.
Researchers have discovered a live frog with a mushroom growing out of its side.
Consultation with mycologists suggested that the mini mushroom was a Mycena species, also known as a bonnet mushroom.
Frog skin is normally pretty good at keeping invaders out, so experts think something like an injury or an infection may have inadvertently let it in.
The discovery points to the mushroom's adaptability.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that this is a unique and unprecedented event when in fact there have been previous documented cases of mushrooms growing on animals. Secondly, the author quotes Chinmay Maliye as saying 'never has a mushroom sprouting from the flank of a live frog been documented' which is false. Thirdly, the article implies that this discovery was made by researchers when in fact it was discovered by hobbyist naturalists who are not considered experts in their field.
The title implies that this is a unique and unprecedented event when in fact there have been previous documented cases of mushrooms growing on animals.
The article implies that this discovery was made by researchers when in fact it was discovered by hobbyist naturalists who are not considered experts in their field.
The author quotes Chinmay Maliye as saying 'never has a mushroom sprouting from the flank of a live frog been documented' which is false.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes a mycologist stating that the mushroom was likely a superficial skin infection on the frog. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the discovery as 'un-spore-gettable'. Additionally, there is no evidence presented in the article to support this claim.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement from the author that implies they have a positive view of mushrooms. The quote is 'I never used to like mushrooms, but after a while they grew on me.' This suggests that the author has undergone an ideological shift in their perception of mushrooms and may be biased towards them.
The article contains a statement from the author that implies they have a positive view of mushrooms. The quote is 'I never used to like mushrooms, but after a while they grew on me.' This suggests that the author has undergone an ideological shift in their perception of mushrooms and may be biased towards them.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The article by Holly Large has multiple conflicts of interest. The author is affiliated with the WWF-India organization which may have a vested interest in promoting conservation efforts related to the topics mentioned such as Kudremukha Ranges and Indosylvirana intermedia.
Holly Large quotes Chinmay Maliye from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur who has conducted research on mycology and its applications in conservation efforts.
The article mentions that Holly Large is an associate editor at IFL Science, but does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships with Live Frog.
The article mentions that Holly Large is an associate editor at IFL Science, but does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships with WWF-India.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article mentions several individuals and organizations that have a vested interest in mycology and the Kudremukha Ranges, India.
A small mushroom grows from the side of a Rao's intermediate golden-backed frog.
The discovery is a surprise as to the best of their knowledge, never has a mushroom sprouting from the flank of a live frog been documented.
Frog skin is resistant to pathogens like bacteria and most fungi thanks to antimicrobial secretions, which makes this discovery even more unusual.
The mushroom could possibly belong to another genus but it's likely a member of Mycena.
Mycelia are threadlike cells that absorb nutrients, not unlike a plant's root. If they find enough nutrients, the fungus can produce a mushroom
Frogs and fungi tend to thrive in similar, moist environmental conditions.
The discovery is major news as it suggests that Mycena mushrooms can opportunistically grow on living animal hosts.
Accuracy
Frog skin is normally pretty good at keeping invaders out, so experts think something like an injury or an infection may have inadvertently let it in.
The discovery points to the mushroom's adaptability.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article implies that a mushroom growing on a live frog is something new and unusual when in fact there have been previous observations of this phenomenon. Secondly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'frog with a mushroom growing from its flank' to create an alarming headline without providing any context or explanation for what happened to the frog after it was observed. Thirdly, the article quotes experts who speculate on various theories about how and why this phenomenon occurred but does not provide any concrete evidence or scientific analysis of these claims.
The title implies that a mushroom growing on a live frog is something new and unusual when in fact there have been previous observations of this phenomenon.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains an example of a fallacy called 'appeals to authority'. The author cites the expertise of several individuals in their field without providing any evidence or context for their opinions. Additionally, there is no clear explanation for how the mushroom grew on the frog's flank and fruited.
The hit HBO show The Last of Us pushed mushrooms and fungi into the pop-culture spotlight.
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses a frog with a mushroom growing on its flank. The author uses the example of the hit HBO show The Last of Us to draw parallels between this phenomenon and something that could happen in the show. This is an attempt to sensationalize what is essentially a scientific discovery, which may be seen as biased.
The article discusses a frog with a mushroom growing on its flank.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Amanda Kooser has a conflict of interest on the topic of mushroom growing on live frog as she is an author for Forbes.com which may have financial ties to companies in the mycology industry.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Amanda Kooser has a conflict of interest on the topic of Mycena genus as she is reporting for Forbes which may have financial ties to companies that produce or sell products related to this topic.
