"This Critter Virtually Dies Frozen Every Winter To Survive"
"This Critter Virtually Dies Frozen Every Winter To Survive" - The Alaskan Wood Frog's Incredible Survival Technique
Transcript
00:00Hey there curious minds, welcome back to Simply Awesome Planet for another fascinating journey
00:05into the wonders of nature.
00:08Have you ever wondered how some animals manage to survive the brutal Alaskan winter?
00:12It's a place where temperatures can plummet to bone-chilling lows and yet, life finds
00:16a way to endure.
00:18Today I'm talking about one of nature's coolest, and I mean literally coolest, survivors, the
00:23Alaskan wood frog.
00:25This little amphibian has some truly astonishing tricks up its sleeve.
00:28Picture this, it's October, the temperatures are dropping fast, and our little frog friend
00:33is getting ready for the big freeze.
00:35As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisp, the Alaskan wood frog begins its incredible
00:40transformation.
00:41Now you might think, hey, isn't freezing bad for most animals?
00:45For many creatures, freezing temperatures can be a death sentence, but not for our resilient
00:49frog.
00:50Well, not for the Alaskan wood frog.
00:53This frog has evolved to turn what would be a fatal condition for most into a survival
00:57strategy.
00:58This frog has a superpower.
01:00It actually freezes solid for months.
01:02Imagine that, a living creature turning into a block of ice.
01:05I'm talking no heartbeat, no breathing, nothing.
01:08It's as if the frog is in a state of suspended animation for up to seven months.
01:13Here's the science-y part.
01:14This is where it gets really interesting.
01:16When the temperature drops, the Alaskan wood frog starts producing glucose, basically sugar
01:21in its liver.
01:22This glucose acts as a cryoprotectant, preventing ice crystals from forming inside the cells.
01:28This acts like a natural antifreeze.
01:30The glucose lowers the freezing point of the frog's bodily fluids, allowing it to survive
01:35the freezing temperatures.
01:37The frog's blood, cells, and organs are protected from ice damage.
01:41This is crucial because ice crystals can puncture cell membranes, causing irreparable damage.
01:46Imagine cramming your car with antifreeze and it just hibernates through the winter.
01:50It's a bit like that, but way cooler.
01:53Crazy, right?
01:54And here's another wild fact.
01:55The extent of this freezing is mind-boggling.
01:59And here's another wild fact.
02:00During this frozen state, about 65% of the frog's body water turns to ice.
02:06That's a significant portion of its body, essentially turning it into a living ice sculpture.
02:11That's like turning most of your body into a popsicle.
02:14Imagine being frozen solid and then coming back to life.
02:18The breathing stops, the heart stops, but thanks to that glucose antifreeze, the cells
02:23don't burst.
02:24They're in a state of suspended animation, just waiting for the right moment to spring
02:28back to life.
02:30They're just waiting for the thaw, and then comes spring.
02:33As the snow melts and the temperatures rise, the magic begins.
02:38Temperatures rise and our frog friend starts to thaw out.
02:41Slowly but surely, life returns to its frozen body.
02:44Slowly the heart begins to beat, breathing resumes, and it hops away like nothing happened.
02:49It's a miraculous revival, a testament to the wonders of nature.
02:52It's like hitting the pause button on life and then pressing play again, but wait, there's
02:56more.
02:57The Alaskan wood frog has even more tricks up its sleeve.
03:00The Alaskan wood frog isn't just a one-trick pony.
03:03It's also a master of camouflage, blending seamlessly into its surroundings.
03:08It's also a master of camouflage.
03:10Its brown and green skin blends perfectly with the forest floor, keeping it safe from
03:15predators.
03:16This ability to blend in is crucial for its survival.
03:19Its brown and green skin blends perfectly with the forest floor, keeping it safe from
03:23predators.
03:24Plus, it's got a pretty nifty diet.
03:26The Alaskan wood frog is an opportunistic feeder, taking advantage of whatever prey
03:29is available.
03:31It feasts on insects, spiders, and even other small invertebrates.
03:35This varied diet helps it thrive in its challenging environment.
03:39Talk about a versatile eater.
03:41The Alaskan wood frog is not just fascinating, it's inspiring.
03:45The Alaskan wood frog is not just fascinating, it's inspiring.
03:48It shows us the incredible resilience of life.
03:51It shows us how life can adapt and thrive under the harshest conditions.
03:55This tiny frog is a symbol of endurance and adaptability.
03:58So next time you're feeling the winter blues, think about our frozen frog buddy.
04:03If it can survive being a frog-sickle for months, you can handle a bit of snow.
04:07Let the Alaskan wood frog be a reminder of nature's incredible resilience.
04:12If it can survive being a frog-sickle for months, you can handle a bit of snow.
04:16Thanks for tuning in.
04:17Thanks for watching and please like and subscribe to my channel as it really helps my channel
04:21grow.
04:22Thanks so much.
04:23Please stay tuned for more videos for answers to the curiosities of our simply awesome world.
04:28Until next time my friends.