What is special about the Australian water-holding frog?
Litoria platycephala has the ability to undergo an amazing process called aestivation. During aestivation, the water-holding frog secretes mucous from the skin, which lines the chamber and hardens around the frog’s body, allowing the frog to hold large amounts of water.
How big is a water-holding frog?
Size range: Their length from nose to rear end is up to 72 mm females) and 64 mm (males). Description: Water-holding Frogs are a moderate-sized stout frog with a flat head and small eyes that point obliquely upwards.
How long can the water-holding frog hold water?
The water-holding frog has a super-sized bladder capable of holding enough water for up to three years underground.
How does a water-holding frog survive?
An Amazing Adaptation! A water-holding frog can store water in its body and live underground for a long time. When it rains, the water-holding frog absorbs half of its weight in water! This water is stored in its bladder and in pockets in its skin. The frog will then surround itself in a dead-skin cocoon.
Why is it called the water-holding frog?
Known as water-holding frogs, these hardy amphibians bury themselves deep in the sand where the temperature is constant. They have tiny spade-like structures under their feet to help them dig. When the rain is heavy enough to soak down to where they have burrowed, the frogs know that the waterholes and creeks are full.
Do frogs need to stay wet?
They need to keep their skin moist to be able to breathe through their skin, so if their skin dries out they are not able to absorb oxygen. They use their skin to absorb oxygen when underwater, but if there is not enough oxygen in the water, they will drown.
Why is it called the water holding frog?
Where does the Amazon horned frog live?
South America
Amazon horned frogs live in ponds of the Amazon basin in South America. The Amazon basin contains the Amazon rain forest, which stretches out through many countries in South America, including Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.
How do frogs get water?
Frogs do not drink like we do; they absorb water directly through their skin in an area known as the ‘drinking patch’ located on their belly and the underside of their thighs.
Where do frogs sleep?
Tree frogs generally sleep in trees, aquatic frogs in water and terrestrial frogs underground. Frogs located in high-latitude and cold regions also hibernate in Winter, and frogs in low-latitude or desert regions generally estivate during Dry seasons.
Why do frogs pee when you pick them up?
Why do frogs pee on you when you pick them up? They pee to try and make you drop them so they can escape. Many animals will either urinate or defecate when handled or threatened. This is a normal defense mechanism to try and avoid being eaten.