amnhnyc:

Are you trying to find ways to stay cool during the heat waves this summer? Here’s how the painted reed frog (Hyperolius marmoratus) survives when it gets too hot: It rests motionless on a leaf in a tightly-wound position which helps it retain body moisture and reduce its exposure to the Sun. It can also enter a hibernation-like state, known as aestivation, in which its metabolism rate drops by 50%! And special cells in its skin, called iridophores, reflect sunlight, resulting in a silvery-white color and acting as a sunscreen. You can spot this frog in parts of Africa including Gabon, Mozambique, and South Africa.

Photo: Bart Wursten, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, flickr

#AnimalFacts #frogs #amphibians #PaintedReedFrog #dyk #aestivation #nature
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