Naturally occurring fluorescence in frogs

Author(s)

Taboada, Carlos ; Brunetti, Andres E. ; Pedron, Federico N. ; Neto, Fausto Carnevale ; Estrin, Dario A. ; Bari, Sara E. ; Chemes, Luca B. ; Lopes, Norberto Peporine ; Lagorio, Maria G. ; Faivovich, Julian

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; v. 114, n. 14, p. 6-pg., 2017-04-04.

Abstract

Fluorescence, the absorption of short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation reemitted at longer wavelengths, has been suggested to play several biological roles in metazoans. This phenomenon is uncommon in tetrapods, being restricted mostly to parrots and marine turtles. We report fluorescence in amphibians, in the tree frog Hypsiboas punctatus, showing that fluorescence in living frogs is produced by a combination of lymph and glandular emission, with pigmentary cell filtering in the skin. The chemical origin of fluorescence was traced to a class of fluorescent compounds derived from dihydroisoquinolinone, here named hyloins. We show that fluorescence contributes 18-29% of the total emerging light under twilight and nocturnal scenarios, largely enhancing brightness of the individuals andmatching the sensitivity of night vision in amphibians. These results introduce an unprecedented source of pigmentation in amphibians and highlight the potential relevance of fluorescence in visual perception in terrestrial environments. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50265-3 - Distribution and metabolism of natural and synthetic xenobiotics: from the comprehension of reactional process to tissue imaging generation
• Grantee: Norberto Peporine Lopes
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/20915-6 - Chemical ecology in anurans: characterization of volatile compounds and peptide pheromones from the skin secretions of frogs
• Grantee: Andrés Eduardo Brunetti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/50741-7 - Diversity and conservation of Brazilian amphibians
• Grantee: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/12343-2 - Method development and prospection studies of marine biological resources with citotoxic potential based on systems biology
• Grantee: Fausto Carnevale Neto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 12/10000-5 - A multi-disciplinary approach to the study of amphibian diversification
• Grantee: Taran Grant
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants