"This Critter Virtually Dies Frozen Every Winter To Survive"

Simply Awesome Animals

"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.

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