Ribbit! Frog All Lit Up by Swallowed Christmas Light

Posted by Alex in Animal, Pictures on April 4, 2009 at 11:52 am



Photo: James Snyder

The Daily Dozen feature on National Geographic, edited by photo editor Susan Welchman, is a treasure trove of neat "Your Shots" photos submitted by the magazine’s readers (a selection of which will actually appear on the magazine itself – talk about awesome!).

I particularly like this one, submitted by James Snyder who wrote:

This is a Cuban tree frog on a tree in my backyard in southern Florida. How and why he ate this light is a mystery. It should be noted that at the time I was taking this photo, I thought this frog was dead having cooked himself from the inside. I’m happy to say I was wrong. After a few shots he adjusted his position. So after I was finished shooting him, I pulled the light out of his mouth and he was fine. Actually, I might be crazy but I don’t think he was very happy when I took his light away.

Link to the Daily Dozen (this particular shot by James appeared on the April – Week 1 section)


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127 comments to "Ribbit! Frog All Lit Up by Swallowed Christmas Light"

  1. Jim R Feliciano
    April 4th, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    The frog probably found the interior warming to be soothing. But it is a frog he might have thought he found some new delicious bug treat.

  2. SenorMysterioso
    April 4th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    maybe thought it was a firefly

  3. GailW
    April 4th, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    This a very cool shot and I'm glad to know the little frog made it out alive!

  4. Kalel
    April 4th, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    Maybe he just wanted a light snack.

  5. Ant
    April 4th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    It is a Cylon!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. Johnny Cat
    April 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    No, it's E.T. turning on his heartlight.

  7. oztilson
    April 4th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    Kalel you so made me laugh--thanks a bunch!

  8. me
    April 5th, 2009 at 12:12 am

    'shopped

  9. Melie
    April 5th, 2009 at 1:41 am

    I have a Cuban tree frog, and those little buggers will pretty much swallow anything they can fit into their mouths! He does make a rather interesting Christmas ornament tho! lol

  10. winsumlusm
    April 5th, 2009 at 3:03 am

    Personally, I think the frog was pretty bright...

  11. per ove sleen
    April 5th, 2009 at 4:11 am

    An enlightened individual so to say.
    Seen in the light of today's trends, "Frog Light" might be a bright idea...maybe even ultra light.
    Frogs being lightweights as reptiles goes, would make a shining example for any weight watcher.
    The little bright fellah even managed to shed some light on to the Christmas tree ornament industry and it's fare from bright future....
    Hope this helped illuminate the matter a little

    POS
    2009

  12. Borellus
    April 5th, 2009 at 10:03 am

    Wouldn't that cook him from the inside? Those lights can get rather hot.

    Frogs legs anyone?

  13. Skeptic
    April 5th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    Looks like a laser pointer aimed at a frog. That's my guess.

  14. marcus
    April 5th, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    aren't you worried about peta breaking down your door and pooring blood on your or something.

  15. John Davis
    April 5th, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    LOL< theres a way to warm up! LOL

    RT

  16. PeterPTP
    April 5th, 2009 at 11:21 pm

    From the University of Florida
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW259

  17. MVCforge
    April 6th, 2009 at 2:24 am

    hmm, i think this is photoshopped.

  18. JL
    April 6th, 2009 at 5:37 am

    Cuban tree frogs in Florida are considered an invasive species and it is recommended that they be humanely euthanized if encountered. They eat native Florida tree frogs.

  19. JMK
    April 6th, 2009 at 11:18 am

    Cubans in Florida are considered an invasive species and should be euthanized if encountered as well.

  20. Ianny
    April 6th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    Glowing or not, I always enjoy pictures of frogs. They must be the most colorful species on earth (after the birds, that is). Find an entire gallery of frog pictures here.

  21. Derp
    April 6th, 2009 at 9:45 pm

    oh perfect! i'm totally gonna buy me some live frogs and xmas lights to add some spunk to my boring house!

  22. sar
    April 6th, 2009 at 10:13 pm

    nobody cares if you think it is photoshopped.
    in my eyes this is an interesting moment in time captured by the creator, no matter the medium used to convey it. i personally love a bright frog photo.

  23. Paradox
    April 7th, 2009 at 2:46 pm

    So THAT's what happened to Tiinkerbell.

  24. Mai
    April 8th, 2009 at 2:21 am

    Why is the frog green, teh rest of the lights white and the light inside it red? That's brilliant! No, really.

  25. Jo
    April 8th, 2009 at 3:11 am

    Sooner it will be a trend; a froggy christmas lights.

  26. Cyclone
    April 8th, 2009 at 8:41 am

    The reason the Frog is green, the lights are white, and the glow is red is because, like you and I, that little frog has blood coursing through his body. If you've ever held a flashlight up to your fingers you know your fingertips glow a red-ish color (I hope). I highly doubt this is a photoshop piece. He most likely thought he had caught a very lazy lightning bug (firefly to some).

  27. Cazzie
    April 8th, 2009 at 11:12 am

    the light was probably warm

  28. FvW
    April 8th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    Brilliant Pic! Love the 'light snack' pun.. hahahaha!
    Still dont get the white lights and red frog part? Photoshop anyone?

  29. Tramp
    April 8th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    And I was scared he mightve croaked...

  30. Robert
    April 8th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    SHOPPED! jk :) very cool pic

  31. Doco-Scott
    April 8th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    Nice pic...doubt it is shopped, where is your sense of wonder people?!?!?

  32. nubbz
    April 8th, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    he probably thought it was some sort of firefly

  33. m
    April 8th, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    The reason the frog glows red isn't because of blood, but rather because organic tissues become transparent in the infrared. What you're seeing is the visible end of that transparency - all other light is absorbed.Bloodless tissue would also glow red. It's the same, by the way, for the fingers in your hand.

    (Sorry about that)

  34. Sam Jones
    April 8th, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    LED Tagging anybody?

  35. Karen Beth
    April 8th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    My daughter studies the migration of the Cuban tree frog. Unfortunately they are evasive to the Florida eco system. They pretty much eat anything that their mouth can fit over including our own green tree frogs. This one could have enjoyed the warmth of the bulb. :-( This is pretty funny.

  36. George Stoddard
    April 8th, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    What a bright frog...um...or maybe - - a not-so-bright frog?

  37. frogman2
    April 9th, 2009 at 12:28 am

    We did this years ago by feeding a frog lightning bugs. it was funny.

  38. Evan
    April 9th, 2009 at 12:29 am

    I'd wager that a frog, being cold-blooded would appreciate the small amount of warmth a small incandescent bulb would provide.

  39. SAmmm
    April 9th, 2009 at 12:42 am

    I saw thisposted on http://www.SubliminalMessages.Com - very very cool. I dig frogs. Especially ones that light up in the dark.

  40. Blotz
    April 9th, 2009 at 12:59 am

    Are people really THAT unimaginative and dull to believe that this photo is fake? Some people need to leave their houses more often.

  41. Rich Reader
    April 9th, 2009 at 1:08 am

    He was probably singing to himself, the famous old spiritual tune, "This Little Light o' Mine".

  42. heythem
    April 9th, 2009 at 3:47 am

    Why is the frog green, teh rest of the lights white and the light inside it red? That’s brilliant! No, really.

  43. picklini
    April 9th, 2009 at 10:19 am

    What the crap?!
    stupid frog...lolA!

  44. vraiment
    April 9th, 2009 at 10:30 am

    MVGforge"s comment is like one of many I see online ALL THE TIME. Why is everything really cool ASSUMED to be photo shopped? There REALLY are just some neat pictures out there.......don't be such a sceptic ALL of the time.

  45. Le Sauvage
    April 9th, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    Kalel that is hilarious.

  46. Bob Frost
    April 9th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    All these comments are photoshopped

  47. Straker
    April 9th, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    Bob, you are right all these comments; this whole page, ARE photo-shopped...IN MY OWN HEAD - - Gahh!

  48. Jacqui
    April 10th, 2009 at 4:38 am

    its a froggy sun bed!

  49. RAJ
    April 10th, 2009 at 4:46 am

    ooh this frog is light from very different see it

  50. beamer
    April 10th, 2009 at 6:02 am

    I'm SO glad you told us he made it out alive!

  51. purplegyu494
    April 10th, 2009 at 10:58 am

    It is cute how his little froggy hand is wrapped around the Christmas light wire.

    By the looks of his eyes and posture I believe he thought he had made quite and accomplishment.

  52. Dani
    April 10th, 2009 at 11:05 am

    I'm guessing he thought it was a bud light...

  53. Srini
    April 10th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    How on earth did you get the light out of the frog's stomach!?

  54. Rick
    April 10th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    mmmmmmmmm......lightbulb

  55. jewbot
    April 10th, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    I think he ate a glow worm.

  56. marky
    April 10th, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    per ove sleen said:
    "Frogs being lightweights as reptiles goes"

    I think you'll find frogs are amphibians my friend ;-)

  57. Turja
    April 11th, 2009 at 1:40 am

    Is it a real photograph?

  58. Johnathan Vrozos
    April 11th, 2009 at 2:15 am

    Now this something Mrs Vrozos must see. She is terrified of frogs never mind one that is lit up. I will bring this to the next Vrozos clan BBQ...

  59. buket altinok
    April 11th, 2009 at 10:15 am

    wow! so cool shot!!

  60. DSE901
    April 11th, 2009 at 10:48 am

    Clearly he was on a diet and eating Lite.

  61. Dogman
    April 11th, 2009 at 11:52 am

    Will that work on my buddy Fred? How many watts?

  62. Johnathan Vrozos
    April 11th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Well, Mrs Vrozos completely freaked out when she saw the picture of the little guy. Although after a little while the wife of Johnathan Vrozos said he looked cute and she was glad he was on the screen and not our house Xmas lights. Albeit he is a cute guy..

  63. Bigair
    April 11th, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    That is so funny!

  64. Bjartur
    April 12th, 2009 at 4:08 am

    This really happend. True story.

  65. Paul Robinson
    April 12th, 2009 at 10:14 am

    haha very good!

  66. tasy
    April 12th, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    ????? ??? ????
    wonderfull

  67. andré schonwald
    April 13th, 2009 at 1:43 am

    As you do, I think the frog might have liked the heat in her body.A new experience , like for us our very first time having a hot cup of say, chocolate? That must have been some kick, after a lifetime of an ever cold body...elephants paint, dolphins and many other living creatures do all sort of things and probably craze for new and pleasant experiences just like we do.I just saw a photo of a bird travelling standing on the back of a flying eagle...

  68. spraaattt
    April 13th, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    hmmm.. i think the bulb will be much cooler than the chillis they eat in cuba !!

  69. j
    April 13th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    What a bunch of idiots, these ppl saying it's Photoshopped... What color is blood?

    /endrant

  70. Healtholic
    April 14th, 2009 at 7:03 am

    Wow..! It's glad to know that the little living buddy is still alive and kicking after the artificial & nutritionless light food was removed from his/her mouth. I think he had enjoyed the heat came out from the bulb all night long..lol

  71. JR
    April 14th, 2009 at 9:03 am

    Very enlightening...and entertaining!

  72. McFingon
    April 14th, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    Rare opportunity. Thanks for sharing this great photo.

  73. Isabella
    April 14th, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    I absolutely love this! I stumbled it, and thought is was very cool!
    As for this being photo shopped-No one cares if you think that or not. Stop trying to get attention and bring people down by falsely accusing them.

  74. Ivan
    April 14th, 2009 at 11:45 pm

    A singing, lit up frog would say "You light up my life"?
    LAME, huh?

  75. michell
    April 15th, 2009 at 12:03 am

    hey that pic is very interesting well surely it seems to enlighten the whole frog internally bloody red..............

  76. bo
    April 15th, 2009 at 12:11 am

    "It's some kind of delicious biscuit!"

  77. Dean
    April 15th, 2009 at 9:05 am

    Having been in the holiday lighting business for 21 years I have finally found the light that everyone will want. "The Froggie Light". One replacement frog per strand!

  78. Eileen
    April 15th, 2009 at 11:06 am

    Very cool! Or is it "warm" :)

  79. joicy
    April 16th, 2009 at 6:04 am

    Its really creative. keep rockng in clicking the photo.

  80. call me jd
    April 16th, 2009 at 7:11 am

    great photo.
    maybe the frog thought its a firefly HAHAHA

  81. ranjith
    April 17th, 2009 at 6:49 am

    NOW WITH THE LIGHTS FOCCUSED, THE WONWERFUL FROG WAS BROUGHT OUT.

  82. David Lee Lucas
    April 23rd, 2009 at 5:59 am

    Ya should of gave the frog/toad a lick. Seriously you'd likey have hallucinated like ya just done five hits of the old "chocolate pinhead" acid from the late sixties, early seventies.

  83. darh
    April 25th, 2009 at 6:40 am

    What a great pic. thanks for sharing.

  84. klem
    April 27th, 2009 at 10:31 am

    I tasted the lights. They taste the same regardless of color. hmmm? Gotta volt. see ya

  85. Sean
    April 27th, 2009 at 11:03 am

    Looks like it could mess him up, at least for a while.

  86. piuer
    April 28th, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    k, O med dog

  87. Does It Hurt?
    April 29th, 2009 at 3:15 am

    Mai- the white light inside the frog looks red for the same reason a white flashlight shined behind your hand looks red.

  88. Eric Olson
    May 3rd, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    Has this bloody thing come through????
    I'm a guy in Cleveland who's not had mail in years. Please respond?

  89. samet
    May 15th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    i think he is protesting the global warming

  90. Joy
    May 25th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

    If you think this is painful, you ought to see his day job!

    You should have turned on the audio....I could swear I heard him humming, "You light up my life!"

    Should we post this as AN Alternative Christmas....after all, for too long, the holiday has been dominated by elves, reindeer, snow bears, etc. Why not a Christmas frog? Uhm. I guess the picture answers its own question.

    Science question....will the light get warts now?

  91. Johnathan Vrozos
    May 25th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Simon Davies loves frogs!!!

    OMG he said...

  92. Florida Vacation Review
    May 31st, 2009 at 7:40 pm

    Frogs are such interesting creatures. It was probably waiting to finish digesting the light before going after the next one...lol!

  93. rianatal3ood
    June 3rd, 2009 at 3:58 am

    Nise and amaizing

  94. Neo
    June 5th, 2009 at 3:58 am

    very cute! the red part looks like a strawberry...yummy!! lol

  95. MiscBytes
    June 6th, 2009 at 8:41 am

    Now that I know he came out of this OK, :-) I love the picture. Very festive little fellow.

  96. suzuki
    June 16th, 2009 at 6:44 pm

    ThE frog is BRILLIANT

  97. Beakman world
    June 21st, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    fact,do you know that most tree frogs in brasil eat one another for their enzymes in to maintain their own biological reaction.The frog that you see in this pictue is real and anything is possiable.so that the time and reread comment 26,33,and 35.I'm Beakman so get out of kitchen and read a book.

  98. Rod Ferrandino
    June 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

    cool pic; it seems to have inspired some "lights out" commentary'

  99. M.R.Raghunandan
    June 25th, 2009 at 11:34 am

    Nice pic the frog is getting fully charged ha ha ha

  100. Valentine Aaqil Mahmood
    July 2nd, 2009 at 10:27 am

    hahaha mr frog.

  101. Biren
    July 4th, 2009 at 3:02 am

    i think that frog was told by his doctor to take LIGHT FOOD...

  102. kamikaze goldfish
    July 7th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    Maybe he thought it was a tasty lightning bug. It probably felt nice and warm on his insides.

  103. janin
    July 7th, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    esta un pocoloco

  104. n!gger hater
    July 20th, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    This frog was commiting sucide, it must have heard we now have a n!gger in the white house!!

  105. Home Gym vs Gym
    July 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Didn't know that frogs could walk up trees. You learn something new every day. Great photo

  106. Lionfish
    July 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 am

    #104 post, your post sounds like a good idea for you.
    You are the polution this planet don't need!

  107. Jenny
    July 26th, 2009 at 12:07 am

    Looks like a simple case of HEART BURN to me .....

  108. Harry Barracuda
    August 3rd, 2009 at 2:08 am

    This is a hoax I done seen it before

  109. paul morgan
    August 10th, 2009 at 7:52 am

    has this frog has got heart burn

  110. lushious lisa
    August 11th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    Hell and i go on about hating Christmas,i don't think i hate it nearky half as much as this poor bugger, stick to the flies,"RIBBIT,RIBBIT!"

  111. Chazzzam
    August 12th, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    Harry, yeah, yeah, yeah. Next thing you're gonna tell us is that Elvis is dead.

  112. notsoplainjane8
    August 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    I bet he thought it was a firefly!

  113. ross
    August 18th, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    the frog licked himself ,got enlightened and is now searching for the racist, to crawl in his mouth and bring him into the community of life

  114. Pat
    August 21st, 2009 at 2:23 am

    i smiled at the last line and imagined of possible frog's frowning reaction and again i smiled at myself.... gone crazy :)

    How and why he ate this light is a mystery
    Possibilities:
    - there was some insect on that bulb and the frog thought bulb part of it the frog liked the warmth and kept the stuff inside.
    - was there a prospective partner froggy nearby? and it was part of attracting process...

    Super-possibilities:
    - the frog was showing his master(photographer) how would a frog shaped bulb would look better.
    - frog is a scientist and its part of research of putting light inside the next generation of frogs.

    :P

  115. anoneemous
    August 24th, 2009 at 2:41 am

    shopped. i can tell from the pixels and the fact that i've seen many shops in my time.

  116. Denny
    August 25th, 2009 at 9:55 am

    Must of thought it was a lightning bug!

  117. Steve Flynn
    August 31st, 2009 at 8:02 am

    I think you folks may be a bit dim witted for around a hundred or more of you to comment on one little lit frog (and I don't mean a drunk Frenchman).

  118. haytham
    September 6th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    Its amazing thing ooooooohhhhhhh my god

  119. Robin
    September 13th, 2009 at 11:00 am

    The frog probably thought he was eating a lightning bug.

  120. Sharon Petroski
    September 17th, 2009 at 10:19 am

    I think the person that suggested laser lite is right. It wasn't a red bulb so it shouldn't be red. Good try though to dupe us!

  121. Masi
    September 18th, 2009 at 1:26 am

    It's a miracle to the frog

  122. huqingyu
    September 20th, 2009 at 4:35 am

    Is it a real frog?

  123. Darla Barr
    September 29th, 2009 at 8:21 am

    Listen number 104, why do you hate so much? If you are so sorry that there is a darker skinned man than you in the White House, that is hateful. If you have a problem with the man's job performance, and socialistic tendencies, that is fine, but a lit up frog isn't the place to air your grievances.

  124. candyfusion belt buckle
    September 30th, 2009 at 11:46 am

    that is so coo!

  125. maouie
    October 8th, 2009 at 7:51 am

    maybe his looking for something inside him...

  126. winged phantom
    October 12th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    This is a great picture.... but in Florida, the Cuban tree frogs will eat the native frogs, as well as out-breed them. They are an invasive species in the state and as such... should be "controlled", if you catch my drift. Do your research.... Sorry to put a damper on the party...
    w

  127. Aleks
    October 23rd, 2009 at 6:21 pm

    http://www.frogtest.hit.bg - test it


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