Every winter, the wood frog freezes solid, then thaws and hops away.

The North American wood frog can survive with around 65 to 70 percent of its body water turned to ice. While frozen it has no heartbeat, no breathing and no detectable brain activity. In spring it thaws and carries on as if nothing happened.

Truth label: Established. Strong evidence and broad agreement among experts.

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Sugar antifreeze

As ice starts to form, the frog's liver floods its body with glucose. This sugar, along with urea, helps protect its cells from ice damage.

Months on ice

In Alaska, frogs studied in the wild stayed frozen for about 193 days in a row.

Learn

1. Arctic frog. It is the only North American frog found north of the Arctic Circle.

Test yourself

Sources

• Wood frog

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