- It prevents itself from drying out and can rely on breathing through its swim bladder, which functions much like a lung.
- It forms a cell in mud, leaving a small breathing hole, and curls its tail about its nose.
- Its skin secretes a liquid that looks like transparent plastic film when it dries. The film covers all but a small hole over the mouth and keeps the fish from drying out while it estivates.
- The lungfish can thus live out of water for months, and then resume active life when water softens the mud.
Animal Two: Desert Frog
- It sheds a layer skin that acts as a waterproof barrier that prevents itself from drying out.
- It has a bladder that contains a huge water supply.
Animal Three: Thorny Devil
- It collects water through capillary action.
- Its skin sucks up the water.
- A darkening band traces the water until it reaches the lizard's eyes and mouth.
The Similarities
- The desert frog and the lungfish seek shelter from their surroundings to prevent themselves from drying out.
- The desert frog and the lungfish have to shed a layer of skin.
In order to maintain internal equilibrium, the animals have to have an external layer of skin to retain water and prevent water loss.
