Mutants are taking over!!!

[Kurt]

I have been sitting on some pictures that came to me via the New England Herpetological Society. They are of a pair of Lithobates clamitans melanota (though I am not 100% sure of my ID) in amplexus in a pond in Maine.

[John]

Strange looking frog. I wonder what's wrong with it.

[Kurt]

With the exception of the yellow-head, it appears to be quite healthy.

[charlamanda]

Looks like vitligo, like Michael Jackson. I've actually seen this in a number of animals, not just in people, deer, dogs, cats, buffalo, panthers, turtles,...etc. It is simply a lack of pigmentation, due to the destruction of the melanocytes, in random areas of the skin. It, I believe, is completely begnin, but can be associated with autoimmune diseases. Again, I am not a Vet...yet( I' am seriously considering it)but, it very much looks like this condition.

[Kurt]

Looks like vitligo, like Michael Jackson. I've actually seen this in a number of animals, not just in people, deer, dogs, cats, buffalo, panthers, turtles,...etc. It is simply a lack of pigmentation, due to the destruction of the melanocytes, in random areas of the skin. It, I believe, is completely begnin, but can be associated with autoimmune diseases. Again, I am not a Vet...yet( I' am seriously considering it)but, it very much looks like this condition.

Thanks for the info.

[charlamanda]

Welcome. With all my questions and medical knowledge, feels good to contribute and put my college education to use for a change