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. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />Like other biofluorescent organisms, the frogs can absorb light at short wavelengths and and re-emit the light at longer wavelengths, creating the fluorescence. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />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. <br /> <br />The study was published in journal PNAS.
