The Frog That Freezes Solid and Comes Back to Life

Pets Bunch

Ever seen an animal freeze solid, its heart stopping completely, only to thaw out and hop away?\nMeet the Wood Frog, a creature with one of nature's most incredible superpowers: surviving being frozen.\nDiscover the mind-blowing biology behind this ultimate survival strategy.

Transcript

00:00In the frozen heart of winter, life seems to stop. But for some creatures, it's a pause.

00:05Imagine an animal freezing solid, its heart-stopping, only to thaw and hop away.

00:11We'll explore the incredible wood frog and the camouflaged gray tree frog,

00:15nature's ultimate survivalists. What do you think is the limit of survival?

00:20Meet the wood frog, a master of cryobiosis across North America.

00:24As temperatures plummet, this amphibian doesn't flee, it prepares to freeze.

00:30Up to 70% of its body water turns to ice. Its heart stops beating and its lungs cease to function,

00:36becoming a solid, frozen froglet. To any observer, it appears lifeless,

00:41a tiny statue locked in winter's grip, waiting for spring to bring it back from the brink.

00:46How is this possible? The secret is a natural antifreeze. As ice forms, the wood frog's liver

00:52works overtime, flooding its cells with glucose. This sugary syrup prevents the cells from freezing

00:58and shattering, protecting vital organs. It's a high-stakes biological process that pushes the

01:04boundaries of life, allowing the frog to endure conditions fatal for most other vertebrates on the

01:10planet. The wood frog isn't alone. Cope's gray tree frog, a master of camouflage with bark-like skin,

01:17also has this superpower. Found in the eastern United States, it spends winters frozen in leaf litter.

01:23Unlike the wood frog's glucose, this species uses glycerol as its primary cryoprotectant.

01:30This allows it to survive unpredictable frosts. Would you be able to spot one in the wild? Comment

01:36below. Don't let its size fool you. The spring peeper, one of North America's smallest frogs,

01:42is also one of the toughest. Its name comes from its high-pitched call, a sign of spring's arrival.

01:49To survive winter, these tiny amphibians burrow into soil or hide under logs and freeze solid.

01:55This ability allows them to be among the first to emerge and begin breeding as the snow melts.

02:01The revival is as miraculous as the freezing. As temperatures rise, the thaw begins from the

02:06inside out. The frog's heart is one of the first organs to function, starting with a faint, slow beat.

02:13This pumps blood through the body, gradually reviving tissues. Within hours, the frog is fully active,

02:19ready to hop and hunt. Which part is more amazing, the freezing or the thawing?

02:24Let us know in the comments. Why endure this extreme process?

02:29This adaptation gives freeze-tolerant frogs a significant evolutionary advantage.

02:34By overwintering near breeding ponds, they can emerge at the first sign of spring,

02:38long before other amphibians that must migrate. This head start allows them to claim the best

02:44breeding spots and gives their tadpoles more time to develop. It's a high-risk,

02:49high-reward strategy that has paid off for these creatures. From a frozen, lifeless state to a vibrant,

02:55hopping amphibian, this journey is a testament to nature's ingenuity. It challenges our definition of

03:02life, proving survival can take forms we never thought possible. This ability not only ensures

03:08their continuation but also holds secrets for medical science, like organ preservation.

03:13The humble frog reminds us that small creatures can hold the biggest wonders.

03:18Don't forget to subscribe for more amazing animal stories.

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