In a remote part of Australia, researchers recently stumbled upon an unusual, blue-skinned tree frog. This individual is a rare genetic mutant of the magnificent tree frog, a large amphibian that’s normally green in color, researchers say.
The magnificent tree frog (Litoria splendida), also called the splendid tree frog, is found only in the far northwest Kimberley region and Northern Territory of Australia. Within the Kimberley region lies the Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary, managed by the non-profit Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC). In mid-April, two land managers from AWC spotted something unexpected within the sanctuary: a striking blue frog sitting on a bench.
“They alerted Jake Barker, one of the resident field ecologists, who forwarded the images to me,” Tom Sayers, wildlife ecologist at AWC, told Mongabay in an email. “I was astonished at how vibrant the blue was on what is such a ubiquitously green animal.”
The ecologists confirmed that the blue amphibian was a genetic mutant of the otherwise-green magnificent tree frog. They could distinguish it from the more common and widespread green tree frog (Litoria caerulea), Sayers said, from the unique speckled white spots on its back and head, the density and arrangement of which varies between individuals.
“It’s definitely a showy frog,” Jodi Rowley, Curator of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Biology at the Australian Museum, told Yahoo News. “It’s one of the most beautiful frogs I’ve ever seen.”
The blue variation is thought to be the result of a rare mutation called axanthism, Sayers told Mongabay. Normally, green-colored frogs have both blue and yellow skin pigments, which combine to make “green”. Axanthism prevents the production of yellow pigments, allowing only blue to come through.
“What’s special about this find is that as far as we at AWC are aware, this may be the first or maybe only one of a handful of records of this rare mutation in the magnificent tree frog species,” Sayers said. “Given the remoteness and vastness of the Kimberely landscape, there are likely to be more blue frogs out there, though it is very unlikely you’ll come across one given the rarity of the mutation.”
A similar blue mutation has been seen in other species of green tree frogs.
“Green tree frogs have evolved to be the colour green largely for camouflage, allowing them to blend in with foliage and their natural surroundings—which is why it is the predominant trait,” Sayers said. “It’s probably not beneficial to be a blue frog as you would stand out more!”
Credits
