Strange fish and frogs live without water

Some animals amaze people because of their excellent survival ability in a dry, extremely harsh environment for a very long time, especially those often thought to be associated with water environments such as fish and frog.

Southern Africa often suffers from severe droughts. For most fishes, getting out of the water environment is almost a death sentence, except for a fish called lung fish.

The lung fish develops a primitive lung form, which helps them receive oxygen directly from the air. They hide from the increase in heat by digging burrows, hiding under mud.

Lungfish eat mud in the process of burrowing, then dispose of them through gills. After digging a "bedroom" , they secrete a kind of mucus that covers the body. It is a natural skin-like silkworm cocoon that keeps them moist until water is available. When this mucus dries out, it forms a shell that protects the fish from the drought.

Lung fish.(Photo: visualphotos.com)

As the situation became worse, the lung fish began to activate the sleep state. Changes in physiological functions allow this fish to slow down its metabolism to a level of less than 1/60 of the normal metabolic rate and protein-derived wastes that are metabolized from ammonia is a less toxic form than urea (usually, lung fish excrete nitrogen-based waste in the form of ammonia directly into the water).

Many studies show that African lungfish can tolerate two years without water.

Meanwhile, central Australia is also faced with prolonged drought. However, under the dry riverbeds is still a place to store life. Desert frogs can withstand seven years of water shortages. They transform the skin into a barrier of drainage, which helps to prevent itself from dying.

At the top of the ground, the search for water continues. The demon thorns can survive for years without water. Black ants are the only source of moisture and food for them.

There is still another way to exploit the desert water. The frog's gut contains a small amount of fresh water, which is enough to rescue a thirsty person. In the desert, there is little time when water is wasted.

Devilish thorns have a unique way of collecting water. As a natural reaction, their skin absorbs fluid, like water-proof paper. Dark patches of skin appear all over the skin of the demon thorn lizard, showing the path of absorbent water, until it approaches the animal's eyes and mouth. Skin canal systems transport water to the lizard's mouth, helping it to drink refreshments.

Even in Africa, the drought will end. Lungs can take up to 4 years until the rain comes, helping it out of a state of inactivity. At the end of the dormant period, they will begin to move their muscles in search of food. The remaining energy is still enough for it to find its way back to the water.