Routes of Water Loss
Evaporation: Cutaneous evaporation is the major route of water loss in most terrestrial amphibians.
- Terrestrial and aquatic amphibians have low resistance to evaporation.
- Exception I: E.g., arboreal hylids, rhacophorids, and hyperoliids.
- These taxa have relatively high resistance to evaporation (=low evaporation rates).
- wind exposure; variable environment (=alternating wet/dry seasons)
- Employ dried mucus, lipids, and/or wax esters.