The beneficial roles of poisonous skin secretions in survival strategies of the odorous frog Odorrana andersonii

Abstract

The evolution of predatory, anti-predatory, and defensive strategies regarding environmental adaptation in animals is of significant research interest. In particular, amphibians, who represent a transition between aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates, play an important role in animal evolution. The bioactive skin secretions of amphibians are of specific interest due to their involvement in the crucial physiological functions of amphibian skin. We previously isolated and identified several bioactive peptides, including those showing antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, from the skin secretions of the odorous frog species Odorrana andersonii. Currently, however, the biological significance of skin secretions in O. andersonii survival remains unclear. Here, we studied the biological significance of skin glands and secretions in regard to environmental adaptations of O. andersonii. Our research found that O. andersonii may secrete and excrete bioactive secretions through many glands (peptides and proteins as the main components in glands) distributed in the skin. The skin secretions not only displayed toxicity but also showed antioxidant, antibacterial, and repair promoting activities, suggesting that they play a protective role in O. andersonii when facing environmental threats. These bioactive skin secretions appear to act as a chemical survival strategy in O. andersonii, allowing the species to gain advantages in survival behavior.

Keywords: Chemical weapons; Defensive strategy; Environmental adaptation; Odorrana andersonii; Skin secretions.