In the dim twilight hours, many frogs may be capable of emitting a faint green or orange glow. A survey of hundreds of frogs in South America shows that far more frogs are biofluorescent than previously thought. Of the 151 frog species tested, using five different light sources covering a range of wavelengths from green to ultraviolet, all had some degree of fluorescence. The ghostly colors may have a role in the frogs’ communication with members of the same species, the scientists say. The frogs’ green and orange fluorescence was most intense under blue light that dominates at twilight, seen in the second image of a forest treefrog (Dendropsophus elegans). Many of the frogs’ body parts that strongly fluoresced are also involved in signaling to other frogs. Much of the fluorescence seemed centered on the throat and underside of the frogs, which are commonly used in courtship rituals.
#science #frog #glow #biology #frogsofinstagram #amphibian #ecology
(📸: Santiago Ron
Second 📸: Courtney Whitcher)
