Scientists baffled by green frog that turned blue

By Dean Murray via SWNS

Scientists have been left baffled after a green frog turned blue.

The species, the magnificent tree frog, is normally green with white spots across the back, but a newly discovered individual displays a world-first, Smurf-like shade.

It was photographed recently by a team from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), who think the uniquely colored bright blue could be due to a rare genetic mutation.

AWC field ecologist Jake Barker was part of the group that first encountered the unusual frog at Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary (Wilinggin Country) in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

“It was after dark when we first spotted it, perched on a bench in the workshop near our research center,” he said. “It was very exciting. Magnificent tree frogs are already spectacular, but to see a blue one is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

As far as AWC scientists are aware, this is the first recorded instance of a blue color mutation in the magnificent tree frog.

According to the Curator of Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology at the Australian Museum, Dr. Jodi Rowley, the mutation is an extremely rare occurrence.

“Very occasionally, a green frog is missing yellow pigment in its skin, and it results in an entirely or mostly blue frog,” she said. “I’ve seen tens of thousands of frogs over the years, and only seen one blue frog - and it was nowhere near as spectacular as this Magnificent Tree Frog. A rare encounter and one that highlights the spectacular diversity of Australia’s frogs!”

This magnificent tree frog (known by its scientific name as Litoria splendida) is found only in the northern Kimberley and adjacent parts of the Northern Territory. It is one of the largest species of amphibians in Australia, growing to about 12 centimeters.

“This is one of a number of north-west endemics that we come across pretty regularly around here,” according to Jake. “They’re not found anywhere else. That’s the great thing about working in the Kimberley – you never know what rare wildlife you’re going to see each day,” he said.

Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the traditional lands of the Ngarinyin People and has been managed for conservation by AWC since 2011.

AWC ecologists and partner groups run extensive biodiversity surveys in the Kimberley, carrying out thousands of survey nights across the region each year. The data helps to inform conservation land management programs such as improving fire patterns and tackling feral animals and weeds.

The post Scientists baffled by green frog that turned blue appeared first on Talker .