How glass frogs turn transparent

Glass frogs are known for their ability to become transparent (see-through). New research has uncovered how the frogs are able to achieve this, and the discovery could lead to new medical treatments for humans. There are more than 150 known species of glass frogs, living in tropical climates in the Americas. When they sleep on leaves during the daytime, their skin and muscles become transparent, with just their bones, eyes, and the organs inside their bodies visible. This helps them blend in, making it harder for predators to find them. Transparency is common in creatures that live in water but rare in vertebrates (animals with a backbone) who live on land, like glass frogs. It’s difficult for land animals to conceal the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout their…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 146

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