Natural History Wanderings

NPR reports

During the day, while the glassfrogs are asleep on green leaves, they’re vulnerable to predators, so they achieve camouflage by becoming super transparent. (Their livers, among other organs, are coated in highly reflective white crystals.) Since their red blood cells are transporting very little oxygen, Delia says the frogs likely have “some alternative process that allows them to keep their cells alive during transparency.” Then, at night, when the frogs become active, “feeding and mating, going about their regular business,” the vitreous amphibians release their red blood cells back into circulation.

Read or listen to the story at A transparent frog hides its red blood cells while sleeping : NPR