Fig. 6: Maximum biofluorescence by body location.

Pie charts (left) present the body locations from which the maximum biofluorescent emission recording was taken from each individual. Body regions are summarized into the following nine groups: cloaca, dorsal surface, eye, facial pattern, flank, inguinal region, limb, throat, and ventral surface. Photographs (right) illustrate variation in the patterns of biofluorescence produced by blue (440-460 nm) excitation light. The species photographed, in order from left to right are: (top) (A) Boana atlantica,(B) Hamptophryne boliviana, (C) Scinax strigilatus, (middle) (D) Boana geographica, (E) Boana lanciformis, (F) Proceratophrys renalis, (bottom) (G) Chiasmocleis bassleri, (H) Scinax trapicheiroi, and (I) Boana calcarata. Each species panel includes a photograph taken under blue (440–460 nm) excitation light through a 500 nm longpass filter and a photograph of the same individual taken under a full spectrum light source (inset). Dorsal biofluorescence was exhibited via secretions from the frog’s skin (as in Boana atlantica) or located in specific positions on the skin (as in Hamptophryne boliviana and Scinax strigilatus). Ventral biofluorescence was documented as widespread, condensed to specific patterns, or scattered in a speckled pattern (as seen in each individual of the middle row respectively). Additionally, ventral biofluorescence often showed both green and orange emission (~527 nm and ~608 nm; as seen in Boana geographica and Proceratophrys renalis). Finally, distinct regions of the frog body, such as the arms, throat, or eyes sometimes produced the greatest biofluorescent emission recording from an individual (as seen in each individual of the bottom row respectively). Created in BioRender. Whitcher, C. (2023) BioRender.com/b34v891.