Frogs are not usually seen in winter. Ever wondered why I don't see frogs in winter or hear their calls? A lot of frogs can be heard croaking in monsoons, but not in other seasons. Then where do they go? In particular, where do frogs live in winter?

Poisonous 'Harlequin' Frog

Before answering this question, let's know a little bit about frogs. Frog is one of the vertebrates. They need both soil and water to carry out their life cycle. Because they are amphibians. They live in almost all regions of the world. Inhabits water bodies, rivers, ponds, swamps, forests, paddy fields and anywhere near water.

However, in the cold weather of winter, the frog's lifestyle changes greatly. Being not warm-blooded animals, their body temperature depends on the environment. Naturally, the frog's body temperature is supposed to drop a lot in winter. Then it would be difficult for them to survive. That's why frogs choose special adaptations to survive the winter. This special process is called hibernation.

In winter, frogs migrate to places where they can escape the cold. Besides, during this time, frogs live by reducing body activity. Frogs that spend most of their time in water; They seep into the soft clay layers beneath ponds, rivers, and reservoirs. In winter, water does not accumulate at this level of the pond. As a result, the frog sleeps safely there. This sleep is called cold sleep. Aquatic frogs take in oxygen through their skin during hibernation. This way they get enough oxygen even if they are under ground or water. This is how the cuttack frog hibernates.

Similarly, terrestrial frogs hide in forests, tree trunks, rock crevices or dig holes in the soil. means sleep In these places they are protected from severe cold. Terrestrial frogs consume very little oxygen while hibernating, as their body activity is extremely low. It almost goes without saying. Kunobang is a type of terrestrial frog.

The question is, why does the frog hibernate? Being a cold-blooded animal, the frog's body temperature fluctuates with the ambient temperature. Extreme cold weather can be fatal to frogs. Hibernation saves them from this adversity. In cold weather during winter, their body activity decreases and finding food becomes difficult. Apart from that, the number of insects also decreases during winter.

Other insects also do not want to come out for the winter. And these insects are the main food of frogs. So hibernation is the most effective way to conserve energy during this time. When frogs hibernate, breathing, heart rate and metabolic activity slow down. As a result energy consumption is less. This energy stored in the frog's body sustains them for a long time.

A lot of research has been done on hibernation in frogs. Frogs have been used in the lab as model animals in various experimental studies. During hibernation, frogs can hold 100 times more glucose than normal in their blood. When the amount of glucose in human blood increases, various problems including diabetes occur. By figuring out how frogs store or tolerate high levels of glucose, blood glucose management in people with diabetes can be studied.

In addition, the frog's ability to withstand cold without damaging any body part can help researchers. Research can be done on how to transplant different types of human organs without harm. In this way it will be possible to remove an organ from the donor and preserve it for a long time.

The frog's body shuts down or reduces blood circulation during hibernation. And blood circulation returns to normal after a few months without blood clots or damage. By understanding the physiology of frog blood circulation during hibernation, it is possible to understand the process by which blood flow in humans is reduced during various surgeries and restored to normal.

The hibernation of frogs is a wonderful mechanism of nature. With the help of this system the life cycle of the frog is fixed even in adverse environment. At the end of winter, frogs are active again, their calls bring life to nature. This process of frogs also reminds us of the importance of preserving the balance of nature and biodiversity.