World’s first fluorescent frog discovered in Argentina
- 7 years ago
SANTA FE, ARGENTINA — Researchers in Argentina have discovered the world’s first fluorescent frog while studying the pigment of South America polka-dot tree frogs.
According to Tech Times, the frog, formerly known as Hypsiboas punctatus, was found in the jungles near Santa Fe. The discovery came as a surprise as the frog’s fluorescent glow is only visible to humans when it is under ultraviolet light.
Like other biofluorescent organisms, the frogs can absorb light at short wavelengths and and re-emit the light at longer wavelengths, creating the fluorescence.
Researchers suspect the frogs use their fluorescence to improve visual perception as it can make them 30 percent brighter during twilight and 19 percent brighter on a night with a full moon, New Scientist reports.
Fluorescence is more commonly found in marine creatures such as coral. Other land animals that are known to have fluorescence capabilities include parrots and some species of scorpions.
The study was published in journal PNAS.
According to Tech Times, the frog, formerly known as Hypsiboas punctatus, was found in the jungles near Santa Fe. The discovery came as a surprise as the frog’s fluorescent glow is only visible to humans when it is under ultraviolet light.
Like other biofluorescent organisms, the frogs can absorb light at short wavelengths and and re-emit the light at longer wavelengths, creating the fluorescence.
Researchers suspect the frogs use their fluorescence to improve visual perception as it can make them 30 percent brighter during twilight and 19 percent brighter on a night with a full moon, New Scientist reports.
Fluorescence is more commonly found in marine creatures such as coral. Other land animals that are known to have fluorescence capabilities include parrots and some species of scorpions.
The study was published in journal PNAS.