Concentrated form reduces water requirements: frogs

1 of 1 Close-up of frogspawn / Tarquin / License

The jelly mass that holds the eggs of many frogs reduces internal water requirements because it is secreted in a concentrated form, which then takes up water from the external environment.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Loss of liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Dehydration techniques for storing food and medicine.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"As far as I know, all extracellular mucuses and gels are secreted in concentrated form and then take up water--a conspicuous example is the jelly mass in which the eggs of a frog are suspended. When swollen, the mass is typically larger than the volume of the gravid female. Slime production by hagfish, according to John Gosline, provides an even more spectacular case." (Vogel 2003:444)

About the inspiring organism

Anura
Anura

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Dehydration techniques for storing food and medicine.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Food storage, medical

References

Steven Vogel. 2003. Comparative Biomechanics: Life's Physical World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 580 p.

Concentrated form reduces water requirements: frogs

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