This frog hides its blood to disappear

It's a trick straight out of science fiction, but this frog can totally vanish

By Smartasaurus· 1 min read Wild

A tiny green frog is sleeping on a leaf in the rainforest

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The short version

It's a trick straight out of science fiction, but this frog can totally vanish
The liver has a mirrored surface that reflects the light, masking the red color.
Curiously, these frogs aren't born clear; they only develop this 'disappearing act' as they mature into adults.

How does a living creature turn into a piece of glass? The glass frog vanishes by hiding its own blood inside its liver.

While most animals are opaque, this frog’s underside is completely translucent. Looking at one is like looking through a telescope; you can watch its heart beat, see food move through its gut, and track its bones.

Normally, the red blood cells circulating through its body would give it away to predators. To solve this, the frog packs nearly 90% of its red blood cells into its liver while it sleeps.

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