Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica): The wood frog survives being frozen solid during winter, with up to 70% of its body water turning to ice. It produces high concentrations of glucose in its blood, acting as a cryoprotectant that prevents cell damage. Its heart stops, and breathing halts, entering a state of suspended animation. In spring, it thaws and resumes normal function within hours. Found across Alaska and Canada, it freezes in leaf litter under snow, which insulates it from extreme temperature swings. This freeze-tolerance is rare among vertebrates and allows it to inhabit regions no other frog can. The wood frog’s adaptation challenges our understanding of life, death, and survival in frozen worlds.
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