Question

Hibernating Frog respires by
A) Lungs
B) Partly by lungs and partly by skin
C) Both skin and lungs
D) Skin only

Answer 1

Hibernation is a state of deep sleep whereby organisms' metabolic activities remain suspended. It's usually done during cold weather to save energy. Frogs undergo hibernation during winters under the mud or a pile of leaves.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse the options to find the correct answer.

Option A: During hibernation, Frogs respire only by skin. Hence, Lungs is an incorrect option.
Option B: In normal state, Frogs can do respiration both by lungs and skin but in state of hibernation they exchange gases only by skin. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
Option C: As mentioned in option B, hibernating frogs only respire by skin. Hence, this is an incorrect option.
Option D: While hibernating, Frogs respire by skin only. This is called cutaneous respiration and it shows that frogs’ respiration capability is not limited only to lungs. Skin is a permeable organ which allows frogs to soak in necessary oxygen that can be transported to cells for respiration. Hence, this is the correct option.

Additional information:
The skin should be wet to allow subcutaneous respiration in hibernating frogs.
Dry skin will not allow the exchange of gases.
Breathing is slow in hibernating animals.
Hibernation can make animals an easy prey.
Some frogs like Woodfrogs make anti freezers to survive the cold weather.

Thus the correct answer is Option (D) Skin only.

Note: Frogs are cold blooded animals i.e their body temperature will be the same as the temperature of their environment. They are also known as poikilothermic animals. Therefore, frogs undergo hibernation in cold weather.