Water Relations of Australian Burrowing Frogs and Tree Frogs

Water uptake after dehydration was measured in the desert species Cyclorana platycephalus, Notaden nichollsi, and four species of tree frogs of the genus Hyla (caerulea, latopalmata, rubella, moorei). Hyla moorei is least tolerant to desiccation and exhibits faster uptake of water whereas H. caerulea withstood the most extreme desiccation. Maximum water content of the body (fat bodies out) was greatest in the burrowing desert frog Notaden nichollsi and least in Hyla moorei. It is suggested that in frogs there are three ways of avoiding death by desiccation, viz., behaviorally, high body water content, and rapid rehydration when water is available.