Despite what internet memes featuring green anthropomorphic amphibians would have us believe, here’s the real tea: Frogs are generally known to absorb water through their skin instead of drinking it.
A frog’s skin is permeable, particularly near its belly and thighs, allowing it to absorb water from its environment into its body. Furthermore, glands located all over the frog secrete mucus, keeping its skin moist and slippery while also letting it take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. Frogs share this trait with other amphibians as well.
However, this characteristic also makes frogs and other amphibians particularly vulnerable. Once a frog’s skin dries out, it severely affects the amphibian’s ability to respire, resulting in its death.
Admittedly, it’s a rather strange adaptation—one that further sets amphibians apart from other animals. But hey, that’s none of our business. 🐸🍵
Today’s Science History Milestone: On December 13, 1962, NASA launched Relay 1, the first active repeater communications satellite in orbit. The satellite provided the first American television transmissions across the Pacific Ocean.
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References:
- https://animals.howstuffworks.com/amphibians/frog.htm
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/08/020827062602.htm
- https://jeb.biologists.org/content/jexbio/79/1/41.full.pdf
- https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/herpetology/all-about-amphibians/all-about-frogs
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
