Chemical Defense
R. boylii has a chemical defense in which it can protect itself from fungal infections, such as the Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The frog secretes a peptide through the skin and the hydrophobic (water repellent) sections of the peptide access to fungi that want to attach to the amphibian. This ability can also be found in other Rana species including the Cascades Frog and the Moor Frog. The former secretes a milky substance that fights against fungal infections and the latter uses its capability to have males turn blue during mating season. Still, the Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog's chemical defense has not been fully examined and is in the process of being understood. Although not much is known about it, this ability of the species has been of interest to many anti-fungal cream companies because of its overall effectiveness. However, current pesticide use has caused problems for the frog. So far, it has been concluded that though exposure to carbaryl, a substance found in common pesticides, does not kill the frogs, it does lower the peptides’ abilities to defend the species against invaders like the chytrid, B. dendrobatidis. More research is being done to see the full effects that pesticides may have on R. boylii.
Read more about this topic: Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
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