Rare Genetic Mutation Turns Green Frog Blue, Surprising Scientists

An elusive tree frog with a never-before-seen color mutation, was spotted and photographed in a remote part of northwestern Australia.

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Blue mutation magnificent tree frog (Ranoidea splendida). The magnificent tree frog, also known as the splendid tree frog, is a species of tree frog first described in 1977. (Credit: Jake Barber / Australian Wildlife Conservancy)

Scientists in Western Australia were recently surprised when they found a tree frog with bright blue coloring, instead of its usual green.

The blue tree frog was discovered in Western Australia, 2,500 kilometres (1553 miles) northeast of Perth in the Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary. According to Jake Barker, a field ecologist with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, two land managers were participating in an AWC workshop when they serendipitously spotted the blue frog sitting on a bench. Fortunately, they had a camera at hand.

“It was after dark when we first spotted it, perched on a bench in the workshop near our research centre,” Mr. Barker said.

“Seeing the picture of the frog, it definitely elevated my heart rate and I was very excited and then [had to get] down there to see it in person,” Mr. Barker enthusiastically added.

“It was so cool, it was a really exciting and special thing.”

The frog was a magnificent tree frog, Ranoidea splendida, also known as the splendid tree frog. These…