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Green Frog (mutation)

Rana clamitans

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44.5991, -72.5003

Field Notes

Description:

Pictured is a Green Frog lacking yellow pigment in its skin. Green pigmentation is not normally present in amphibians, the structural expression of blue wavelengths from amphibian skin is essential for the green coloration of many frogs. Basically, the shorter blue wavelengths of light are largely absorbed by filtering the yellow pigment layer, reflecting the yellow-green wavelength to our eye. Occasionally, however, due to a genetic mutation, frogs that normally appear green - lack the yellow pigments in their skin, making them appear blue.

Habitat:

Ponds, forest.

Notes:

My daughter discovered this blue colored frog and ID'd it as a mutated Green frog via the State of Vermont and VT Center for Ecostudies. This is not common, but VT has seen more blue frogs over the past few years.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Interesting description and information - thanks for sharing!
I just received the Field Notes from Vermont Center for Ecostudies and they had an article on "Why Most Animals Aren't True Blue" and found it interesting so I searched for my daughters picture. I thought it was cool too. Thanks. Doreen

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