Chernobyl spawns mutant frogs
Mutant black frogs have been discovered near the site of the Chernobyl disaster.
The Chernobyl disaster is spawning mutant frogs.
Scientists working near the site of the nuclear catastrophe have discovered Eastern tree frogs - which typically have bright green skin - with darker pigmentation.
The experts are convinced that the mutated frogs' darker skin helped them survive in the exclusion zone following the nuclear accident.
The disaster occurred in 1986 when the site in northern Ukraine - then under the rule of the Soviet Union - witnessed the largest release of radioactive material into the environment in human history.
German Orizaola, a researcher at Spain's University of Oviedo, said: "We became aware of these frogs the very first night we worked in Chernobyl.
"We were looking for this species near the damaged power plant and we detected many frogs that were just black.
"We know that melanin is responsible for dark or black colouration in many organisms, including frogs.
"At the same time, we know that melanin protects from the damage caused by different types of radiation, from UV to ionizing radiation - the kind at Chernobyl."
