Photograph by Darren Garrison.
Hyla versicolor--gray tree frog.
If you can't see the frog, just go below the fold.
Your irascible judges generally do not discuss their decisions, but we frankly ruled out this remarkable example of camouflage because, well, there is no picture there.
My own pattern-recognition system is not so hot, and I simply could not find the frog until Mr. Garrison directed me to the photograph with the red outline. Once I identified the frog, however, I now see it immediately in the upper photograph. I have noticed the same phenomenon before, for example, in connection with photographs of the peppered moth -- once I finally identify the moth, I see it immediately the next time I see the same photograph. People in the audience when I gave a talk on the peppered moth told me they experienced the same phenomenon. Still, I am fortunate that I do not have to rely on frogs' legs for my sustenance.
19 Comments
D. P. Robin · 12 October 2009
My 11 year old (home sick) saw it right away.
wright · 12 October 2009
Wow. Just... wow. It took a couple of minutes to find him.
eric · 12 October 2009
When I first looked at the pic the caption was off-screen and I thought "nice yellow polka-dot moth there." Then I could see the (rest of the) frog. Great pic!
The real question is: did you evil evolutionists use glue or a pin to affix the frog to the tree like that? :)
Wheels · 12 October 2009
I honestly didn't see the frog until after the jump. Such camouflage is obviously too complex to have arisen by chance! Just think of all the neon pink and chartreuse frogs that would have had to die just trying to evolve a mottled grey/brown/green scheme like that!
Reed A. Cartwright said: It's the natural coloring of their hind legs.
See also http://community.middlebury.edu/~herpatlas/spp_pages/spppix/Hyla_versicolor_photo.jpg
Gary Hurd · 12 October 2009
Was the right rear leg injured? I don't see how the lower/ventral of the femoral portion was exposed?
Cool photo.
Darren Garrison · 12 October 2009
These frogs also seem to have some sort of color change ability-- I used to find them often, sometimes almost white, sometimes dark. I'm not sure if it is color changes, though, or different individuals with a range of colors. Here are two of them (or the same one in two colors) on an "elephant ear" leaf:
D. P. Robin said:
My 11 year old (home sick) saw it right away.
He wouldn't happen to be color blind, would he?
It's interesting because a lot of color blind people cut through camoflauge very easily - another interesting adaptation...
dNorrisM · 13 October 2009
FWIW: I'm partially colorblind and I saw it in <1 second.
george · 13 October 2009
That *really* looks like a Photoshop job. (It isn't, of course)
gregwrld · 15 October 2009
Wow, indeed - great photo! I saw the frog in a moment but the real point is: would I see it in the wild? Especially if I was a hungry snake?
Henry J · 15 October 2009
would I see it in the wild? Especially if I was a hungry snake?
Nope - and I think that's the point!
Henry
Mike from Ottawa · 16 October 2009
It’s interesting because a lot of color blind people cut through camoflauge very easily - another interesting adaptation…
A colleague of mine was telling me yesterday that the Canadian Army back in WW2 preferred colour-blind soldiers as scout/snipers for that very reason.
Henry J · 17 October 2009
It’s interesting because a lot of color blind people cut through camoflauge very easily - another interesting adaptation…
Makes sense. After all, camouflage is adapted or designed to fool a particular type of sensory system, and depends on the particular traits of that system. Change the sensory system, and camouflage adapted (or designed) for the old one won't work with the new.
Henry
arachnophilia · 21 October 2009
the outline makes it harder for me to see the frog.
19 Comments
D. P. Robin · 12 October 2009
My 11 year old (home sick) saw it right away.
wright · 12 October 2009
Wow. Just... wow. It took a couple of minutes to find him.
eric · 12 October 2009
When I first looked at the pic the caption was off-screen and I thought "nice yellow polka-dot moth there." Then I could see the (rest of the) frog. Great pic!
The real question is: did you evil evolutionists use glue or a pin to affix the frog to the tree like that? :)
Wheels · 12 October 2009
I honestly didn't see the frog until after the jump. Such camouflage is obviously too complex to have arisen by chance! Just think of all the neon pink and chartreuse frogs that would have had to die just trying to evolve a mottled grey/brown/green scheme like that!
Kattarina98 · 12 October 2009
Amazing! - What are the yellow dots: eggs?
Reed A. Cartwright · 12 October 2009
It's the natural coloring of their hind legs. Click the picture for a link to Wikipedia.
Stanton · 12 October 2009
Paul Burnett · 12 October 2009
Gary Hurd · 12 October 2009
Was the right rear leg injured? I don't see how the lower/ventral of the femoral portion was exposed?
Cool photo.
Darren Garrison · 12 October 2009
These frogs also seem to have some sort of color change ability-- I used to find them often, sometimes almost white, sometimes dark. I'm not sure if it is color changes, though, or different individuals with a range of colors. Here are two of them (or the same one in two colors) on an "elephant ear" leaf:
http://s313.photobucket.com/albums/ll394/darrengarrison/nature/?action=view¤t=frogonleaf.jpg
http://s313.photobucket.com/albums/ll394/darrengarrison/nature/?action=view¤t=whitefrog.jpg
Jimmy · 13 October 2009
dNorrisM · 13 October 2009
FWIW:
I'm partially colorblind and I saw it in <1 second.
george · 13 October 2009
That *really* looks like a Photoshop job. (It isn't, of course)
gregwrld · 15 October 2009
Wow, indeed - great photo! I saw the frog in a moment but the real point is: would I see it in the wild? Especially if I was a hungry snake?
Henry J · 15 October 2009
Mike from Ottawa · 16 October 2009
Henry J · 17 October 2009
arachnophilia · 21 October 2009
the outline makes it harder for me to see the frog.
aero · 28 October 2009
I saw it. Thanks for share such a puzzle image.