RANOIDEA PLATYCEPHALA - WATER-HOLDING FROGS

A water-holding frog ready to aestivate

The most extreme example of species that have adapted to extremely dry climats, is set by the Ranoidea platycephala, commonly known as water-holding frog. They live in western New South Wales, southern Queensland, north-eastern South Australia, western Western Australia or one of the select spots in the Northern Territory. In dry periods, as surface waters disappear, right before the soil becomes too hard to dig, the water-holding frog burrows itself over 1 meter into the ground with the help of tiny spade-like structures under their feet. Once underground it sheds several layers of skin to create a translucent, waterproof cocoon around itself that will help preserve the water reserves. Water is previously stored in the bladder or in pockets Spending up to under the skin, and the frog can reduce its metabolic 5 years at 1 metre putting itself into a rate, under the ground comatose state. They can stay in this chambers for up to 5 years, waking up againg as soon as a rainfall heavy enoguh to reach their depth occurs.* The collectd water may constitute up to 60% of the weight of the frog. Slight pressure can make the frog release this water without harming it. In extremely dry times, Aboriginal people like the Anangu, would find these frogs by spotting their digging marks on the ground, or tapping the * This adaptation surface, and using them as a source of drinking strategy is called aestivation. Jump water. Even thoough the process doesn’t hurt the to pg. 40 for more. frog directly, water deprivation during drought will inevitably lead to the frog’s death.