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<\/div>The magnificent tree frog (Litoria splendida) is normally green, but this mutant is blue<\/p>\n
J Barker\/AWC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n
A rare blue frog found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia has stunned researchers, who say the unusual colouring is probably due to a genetic mutation causing it to lose certain skin pigments.<\/p>\n
As its name suggests, the magnificent tree frog (Litoria splendida<\/em>) is already a spectacular animal, so when Jake Barker<\/a> at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy\u2019s Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary saw a bright blue specimen on a bench in a workshop in April, he was shocked.<\/p>\n The amphibians are normally a vibrant green, which is a common colour for tree frogs and is thought to camouflage them.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew as soon as I saw it that it was rare,\u201d says Barker. \u201cIt\u2019s not often that you get to see a blue frog.\u201d It has been seen a number of times since, but won\u2019t be captured for research, he says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s far too pretty and far too unique and it would be a pity to take it away from its natural habitat,\u201d says Barker. \u201cWe\u2019ll leave it to live out its days and hopefully get to see it many more times in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n