A day in the life of Waxy Monkey Tree Frog: The amphibian that sunscreens itself

A day in the life of Waxy Monkey Tree Frog: The amphibian that sunscreens itself (Image: Canva)

Do you ever find an animal that smears up sunscreen and uses it to shield itself? The waxy monkey tree frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) has developed a remarkable survival method in the forests of the Gran Chaco, in South America where it can survive due to a lack of water.

Waxy Monkey frog and its sunscreen

This frog also does not need artificial sunscreen like most amphibians but secretes a natural form of sunscreen that is a yellowish waxy substance. This enables its skin to be moist and keep warm in the hot weather. This is a type of wax that enables the frog to survive in the environments that other frogs would easily dry up.

Leg-Wiping: A Wizard of an Application

The frog does not just produce the wax, it rubs it all over its body with its legs. This behaviour is known as leg wiping by scientists. This guarantees the entire coverage and provides hydration to the frog. Leg wiping also minimise water loss in a desert where moisture is limited. A combination of inherent chemical defence and behavioural resourcefulness is rare and can be observed in such behaviour.

Reproduction in a Dry World

Adaptation is applied to reproduction. The grove frogs place their eggs on the foliage resting on the water. Once the tadpoles are hatched, they fall into the water underneath, and this is dependent on seasonal rains.

This method will reduce the chances of desiccation and optimise the chance of survival in the punishing environment.

Lessons in Resilience

The survival strategy of this amphibian demonstrates strong capabilities of chemical and behavioural adaptations to extreme climatic conditions. The changing climate all around the world, exerts more and more pressure on the environment.

The waxy monkey tree frog is a vivid reminder of the power of nature and its adaptation to the circumstances. The ability of the behaviour and biochemical processes to unite to surmount the problem.