The Role of Substrate Moisture and Dew in the Water Economy of Leopard Frogs, Rana pipiens

Abstract

In summer, adult Rana ipipens, which normally reside at considerable distances from ponds, depend upon soil moisture as their primary source of water. Water is absorbed through the skin of the groin while sitting on the damp soil. Under controlled laboratory conditions leopard frogs dehydrated to 65-75% of their hydrated weight, can, on the average, completely recover the lost water in 48 hr when on sand with a moisture content of 20%; on sand with only 10% water content, only about 50% of the lost water is reabsorbed in 48 hr.