April 15, 2008

Related ArticlesLungless Frog Species Discovered in Borneo

Researchers from the National University of Singapore and the Institut Teknologi Bandung in Java, Indonesia have confirmed the identity of the first lungless frog. Researchers discovered two populations of the aquatic frog while on expedition in Indonesian Borneo. The frog's existence was previously known only through two specimens.

"We knew that we would have to be very lucky just to find the frog," said David Bickford of the National University of Singapore. "People have been trying for 30 years. But when we did and I was doing the initial dissections—right there in the field—I have to say that I was very skeptical at first [that they would in fact lack lungs]. It just did not seem possible. We were all shocked when it turned out to be true for all the specimens we had from Kalimantan, Indonesia."

The frog, Barbourula kalimantanesis, appears to get all its oxygen through its skin. The frogs live in oxygen-rich cold, fast-flowing water, which lets them absorb more oxygen through their skin. The frog's extremely flat-shaped body increases the surface area of its skin, which also helps in the absorption of oxygen.

The frogs are fairly secretive in their activities (hence it took over 30 years to confirm their existence)—making studies very difficult. Making matters worse, the frogs' habitat is threatened by human activities in the area.

"This is an endangered frog—that we know practically nothing about—with an amazing ability to breathe entirely through its skin, whose future is being destroyed by illegal gold mining by people who are marginalized and have no other means of supporting themselves," Bickford said. "There are no simple answers to this problem."

More to Explore

• First Lungless Frog Found
• World's Only Lungless Frog Leaves Scientists Gasping

Last updated April 15, 2008 | Comments (3) | Permalink | Related Articles