#DO CANE TOADS HIBERNATE IN WINTER SKIN#

This doesn’t immediately kill or harm the frog, but it does make it harder for them to survive to the next rainfall.Īround the world, there are other species of frogs that aestivate in the same or similar manner to the water-holding frog.

#DO CANE TOADS HIBERNATE IN WINTER SKIN#

A convenient hole in the skin near the nostrils allows the frog to breathe slowly waiting out the next rainy period.Īborigines discovered that these frogs could be used as an emergency source of water by squeezing the frog and emptying the almost fresh water for drinking. Once all the water is gone, they bury themselves underground and shed several layers of skin that are thick enough to not only prevent dehydration but also store water.

The water-holding frog takes advantage of this short breeding period to lay their eggs in the pools that form. When rain does come, it’s usually in the form of tropical moisture, which means a lot of it and all at once. Western Australia is prone to dry spells lasting months or even years. The water-holding frog ( Litoria platycephala) of western Australia is a prime example of aestivation. Think of it like the dry weather counterpart to cold weather hibernation. During aestivation, an animal becomes dormant during a dry period to better conserve water or keep cool. One of the most common adaptations is called aestivation (also “estivation”). There are several species of frogs and toads that have developed amazing adaptations to survive in some pretty extreme environments. They also have to find ways to prevent massive water loss through their thin skin during extended dry spells. Unlike the rainforest, frogs in a dry environment have to seek out rare pools of water to breed. These frogs and toads have adapted to survive in an environment that’s very different from the tropical rainforest. Little discussed, however, are the amazing amphibian survivors in drier climates like deserts, grasslands and savannahs. On this blog, we’ve discussed the challenges facing tropical frogs, especially those susceptible to chytrid fungus.

The cane toad is an example of an amphibian that has adapted to survive extreme environments.

Do cane toads hibernate in winter