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The water-holding frog has an aestivation cycle. It buries itself in sandy ground in a secreted, water-tight mucus cocoon during periods of hot, dry weather. Australian Aboriginals discovered a means to take advantage of this by digging up one of these frogs and squeezing it, causing the frog to empty its bladder. This dilute urine—up to half ...
During aestivation water holding frogs shed several layers of their skin and secrete a water-tight mucus cocoon that is used to line their burrow in order to retain and maintain water more effectively. [5] They also tend to ingest this lining for additional nutrition when required. [9]
These glands secrete mucus and a range of toxins that make frogs slippery to hold and distasteful or poisonous. If the noxious effect is immediate, the predator may cease its action and the frog may escape. If the effect develops more slowly, the predator may learn to avoid that species in future. [186]
The parotoid gland (alternatively, paratoid gland) is an external skin gland on the back, neck, and shoulder of some frogs (especially toads), and salamanders. It can secrete a number of milky alkaloid substances (depending on the species) known collectively as bufotoxins , which act as neurotoxins to deter predation .
This special adaptation prevents water loss, since fewer blood vessels occur in the "co-ossified" (fused) area. Cuban tree frogs are able to secrete a toxic mucus from their skin which can cause a fiery sensation if it makes contact with a person's eyes. [8]
When met with a dry period, these frogs tuck their ventral areas under them so that only their resistant skin is exposed. They also secrete a water-resistant mucus to seal any small gaps when they aestivate. [12] [13] If disturbed and forced to move, they lose a significant amount of water and may not be able to survive the rest of the dry ...
Adult frogs try to escape by splashing and leaping into deep water. A trapped individual may squawk or emit a piercing scream, which may surprise the attacker sufficiently for the frog to escape. An attack on one bullfrog is likely to alert others in the vicinity to danger and they will all retreat into the safety of deeper water.
The nest's protective quality may be further enhanced when the outer mucus dries to form a hard outer cast, effectively reducing water loss by reflecting solar radiation and trapping moisture. Fletcher's frog eggs can survive and even continue developing for several days in the absence of free-standing water.