Cryptid Profile: Flashlight Frog

In June of 1997, naturalist and cryptozoologist, Jonathan Downes was visiting an animal fair at Newton Abbot in Devon, England. While there, he came across a cage of exotic tree frogs from Cameroon, West Africa. The exotic frog seller noted that the frogs were able to make their nose glow in darkness in order to attract prey. The vendor was selling the frogs for $38 per frog. Unable to purchase a specimen, Downes took the information to local herpetological scientists (herpetology: branch of zoology that studies amphibians) where he was told that science recognizes no frog species that are able to (or known to) produce a bio-luminescent light.

The Flashlight Frog is described as being around 2-inches long with green skin uniformly covering its body and large pale eyes set widely upon its head. It is noted as having a slightly raised bump or “horn” at the end of its nose that is slightly blue in color. This is the area that is able to light up or glow via bio-luminescence (the production and emission of light by a living organism). At night, it lights up its nose to attract flying insects and once close enough, the frog strikes with a long pale yellow tongue.

-The Pine Barrens Institute

*Image Credit: Google