Buzz
While frogs and toads may appear slow and unimpressive at first, they actually hold some remarkable abilities found nowhere else in nature. Those slimy creatures you once tricked your siblings with are now incredible subjects of research and are making unexpected contributions to medical breakthroughs.
10. Ultra Potent Morphine
Before heading out to hunt, the Matses Indians of Peru apply the secretions from the waxy monkey tree frog (Phyllomedusa sauvagii) to ‘feel like gods.’ This small amphibian secretes a substance that is 40 times stronger than morphine, providing immense pain relief without the harmful side effects of morphine, such as respiratory depression or addiction.
Researchers are working to transform this secretion into a safe, revolutionary medicine. However, racehorse owners are already ahead of the game. Dermorphin, the active ingredient in the secretion, has recently been discovered in racehorses across the country. This is likely illegal, as a horse that has boundless energy and feels no pain could hold a significant advantage in races.
9. Supercharged Bladder
In 2010, researchers from Australia observed that the radio trackers they were implanting into frogs were mysteriously being expelled. After thorough testing, they discovered that a frog’s bladder would surround any foreign object in its body. For example, the Australian green tree frog (Litoria caerulea) would expel a bead in approximately 19 days.
To put this in perspective, consider that the transmitters being inserted were 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) long, placed inside frogs measuring only 8 centimeters (3 inches) long. It's almost like trying to push out a cannonball, or something similarly hard, that’s about 25 percent of your height. Scientists believe this makes sense because frogs are known to be soft, somewhat clumsy, and not the brightest. If they get punctured while hopping around, they need a way to flush out their bodies. To date, no other animal is known to urinate out objects like boulders lodged inside them.
8. Mighty Tongue
The horned frog of South America (genus Ceratophrys) is commonly referred to as the Pac-man frog because of its enormous mouth. These vibrant creatures are infamous for their ravenous hunger and aggressive nature. They will eat virtually anything, from insects and rodents to snakes, other frogs, lizards, and even small birds. Using its tongue, the horned frog snatches unsuspecting prey and pulls it into its massive mouth. This is particularly impressive considering the size of its meals. Curious about the strength of their tongue, researchers conducted tests revealing that it can generate forces of “1.4 times their body weight.” This is akin to yanking a 180-kilogram (400 lb) cow into your mouth. One particularly muscular frog managed to pull an astounding three times its own body weight with its tongue.
7. Earthquake Sense
Humans, the most intelligent, technologically advanced, and best-looking species on Earth, cannot predict an earthquake before it strikes. We simply haven't cracked the code. Animals, however, tend to react hours ahead of time. But when it comes to frogs, they have an uncanny ability to sense the impending tremors five days before they hit. Researchers in Italy were studying a frog population during mating season when suddenly, all the frogs got up and vanished. There were no apparent disturbances, and the weather was fine, yet they fled. A few days later, a massive earthquake struck.
The exact reason for the frogs' behavior remains unclear, but NASA has a theory. Before an earthquake occurs, the pressure building beneath the Earth's surface creates chemical changes that release positively charged ions, which can cause headaches and nausea in both animals and humans. These ions can also react with water to produce hydrogen peroxide. It's possible that frogs are sensing these chemical changes, causing them to flee from the water. But for now, it remains a hypothesis. For all we know, frogs might have psychic abilities.
6. Super Sticky Substances
Tearing a ligament is a common orthopedic injury, and sadly, less than 10 percent of these injuries can be repaired using current methods, which typically involve suturing. Fortunately, frogs may have a solution. The Holy Cross frog (Notaden bennettii) from Australia produces the strongest nontoxic glue in the world. These frogs spend nine months of the year living underground in the desert, emerging only when it rains. This is also when biting insects become a problem. But with the gluey substance secreted all over its skin, the frog avoids bites as insects get trapped in the glue. Later, the frog sheds its skin and consumes the trapped insects.
This fast-drying glue could revolutionize surgery. By extracting the slime from these frogs, knee surgeries could become quicker and easier. Most glues are toxic and unsuitable for internal use, while existing nontoxic medical glues are relatively weak. However, the secretions from the Holy Cross frog are both nontoxic and incredibly strong. It also dries quickly, in around 30 seconds, whether in open air or underwater. Soon, we may see frogs on surgery tables, ready to provide their unique, healing slime.
5. Universal Remedy
An intriguing Russian tradition suggests throwing a frog into your milk to prevent it from spoiling. Back in the days before refrigeration, it seemed like a small price to pay. But how did a drowned frog help preserve milk? Frog skin is coated in remarkable antibacterial substances, seemingly capable of curing almost anything. The Australian red-eyed tree frog (Litoria chloris, shown in the image) produces peptides that create holes in the HIV virus, causing it to disintegrate. It can literally cleanse HIV from an infected cell.
The foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) from California is being studied for its potential in combating MRSA, the superbug that frequently makes headlines for outbreaks in hospitals. Scientists are also testing the slime from waxy monkey frogs to treat cancer. These frogs produce a unique chemical that halts the growth of blood vessels. Since cancer tumors rely on new blood vessels to grow, this chemical could help starve them, preventing the tumor from spreading uncontrollably. The potential medical applications of frog-derived substances are endless. And, as an added bonus, you can leave your milk out for days without it spoiling.
4. Hyper Hearing
Imagine you're at a loud club, and you're trying to strike up a conversation with a beautiful woman across the room. If you were a concave-eared torrent frog, you wouldn’t need to move a muscle. You could talk to her from your spot, and she’d hear you clearly. These extraordinary frogs (Odorrana tormota) can fine-tune their hearing to specific frequencies, much like tuning into a radio station. They’re the only known animal on Earth capable of this ability. While most of us hear a broad range of sounds, the torrent frog can select exactly which frequencies it wants to hear. They’re also one of the few animals capable of communicating in ultrasound, allowing them to cut through the loud noise of the waterfalls and rapids near their habitat. Their hearing is incredibly precise; a male can jump to the sound of a female with less than a 1 percent error rate, far surpassing any other amphibian. Researchers speculate that they might even use their ultrasonic calls, similar to bats, to navigate in the dark.
3. Weaponized Mustache
Know what the ladies are into? Mustaches and muscular arms. The Emei toad (Leptobrachium boringii) from China has got this down to a science. These frogs grow a set of impressive ‘staches during mating season, consisting of 10–16 spines made from keratin, the same material found in claws and horns. Their forearms also get noticeably more muscular.
So, what do they do with these gnarly mustaches? They fight, of course. Good nesting spots are hard to come by, and the dominant males battle it out by using their spiky ‘staches to stab each other. Their muscular forearms come into play as they lift and slam their opponents into rocks. Despite the ferocity of the encounters, most males simply limp away with a few wounds rather than dying. But the real surprise comes after the fight: these males are surprisingly tender. Once the female lays her eggs, the male stays behind to protect them. And if one male takes over another’s nest, he’ll guard the eggs, even if they belong to the male he just fought, which defies all evolutionary logic—why would he care for his rival’s offspring?
2. Natural Repellent
Mosquitoes are a menace to nearly every land-dwelling creature. These tiny pests cause more deaths through disease each year than any other animal on the planet, with 725,000 people succumbing to mosquito-borne illnesses annually. Even snakes aren't safe from their bites. However, one group of animals is virtually untouchable: frogs. Frogs secrete a natural repellent that makes them immune to mosquito bites, which is fortunate since they often share the same damp, mosquito-friendly habitats. To date, frogs are the only vertebrates known to resist mosquitoes. While frog secretions are not as effective as chemical repellents, they are environmentally friendly. The downside? Frog juice smells awful, so it’s unlikely we’ll be using it anytime soon.
1. Summon Water From Thin Air
Every frog has one essential need—water (lots of it). Amphibians, in general, require moist environments to survive. So, you wouldn’t expect frogs to thrive in deserts where rain is a rare event. But that’s exactly the habitat of the Australian green tree frog (Litoria caerulea). So how do these frogs stay hydrated? They essentially drink air. At night, the temperature in the desert drops, and these frogs live in hollow trees that trap the warmth from the day. When they hop into the cold night air and return to their warm homes, condensation forms on their skin, which they drink through their pores. This is a trick warm-blooded creatures can't replicate because we maintain a constant body temperature. For frogs, however, this process works like a glass of iced tea sweating in the sun. How much water do they get this way? Studies show they can absorb 1 percent of their body weight in water—roughly equivalent to a 90-kilogram (200 lb) person collecting 1 kilogram (2 lb) of sweat.
+ Shocking Eyes
For frogs, the color of their skin is crucial. Poison dart frogs, for example, use their vibrant hues to signal to predators that they are highly toxic. Frogs with fewer natural defenses tend to have colors that help them blend into their environment. However, the red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) may be one of a kind, as it uses its colors for both camouflage and as a warning to predators. During the night, with its eyes closed and limbs tucked in, it blends seamlessly with the leaves where it rests, leaving only green visible. But why would a defenseless frog flaunt bulging red eyes, orange feet, and bright blue stripes? To dazzle and confuse the visual senses of its predators.
Researchers suggest that the red-eyed tree frog employs a tactic known as startle coloration. Nocturnal predators typically have highly sensitive vision. When a red-eyed tree frog is startled, its large, vibrant eyes pop open, and it flashes its orange feet and striped blue-and-yellow sides. This sudden burst of color is thought to overwhelm a predator's vision, creating a disorienting afterimage. Red-eyed tree frogs, with their striking looks, may be more than just a visual delight—they could be literally blinding to their would-be attackers.
