Current status of tree frogs in Chernobyl

A large population of tree frogs was discovered in Chernobyl. Unlike traditional tree frogs, which have bright green skin, most Chernobyl frogs instead have black skin.

“Dark pigments protect against a variety of radiation sources by neutralizing radiation and reducing DNA damage,” the researchers explained in the study. Therefore, frogs with more melanin may have had a survival advantage because they were better protected from high levels of radiation after the explosion.

Only the frogs left were radiation-protected due to their high melanin content.