Color changes, unusual melanosomes, and a new pigment from leaf frogs

Melanosomes of phyllomedusid frogs are unusually large and are composed of an amorphous matrix of thick fibers. Their hitherto undescribed dark red pigment is neither phaeomelanin nor eumelanin, but seems to be related to melanins. Melanophores of at least one of these species, Agalychnis dacnicolor, exhibit color change in direct response to illumination, and it is suggested that these chromatophores are innervated.