Adhesive Strength of Amphibian Skin Secretions

Morphological characterization of the glandular system in the salamander Plethodon shermani (Caudata, Plethodontidae)

“…Tests on adhesive skin secretions in Ambystoma gracile also show that components of the glue cause a loss of the sense of touch, a temporal burning sensation, and an inflammatory process when applied to rat eyes (Brodie and Gibson, 1969). As observed for A. gracile (Evans and Brodie, 1994), Ambystoma tigrinum (Hensel and Brodie, 1976;Williams and Anthony, 1994), Ambystoma opacum (von Byern, personal observation), Plethodon jordani (Evans and Brodie, 1994) and Batrachoseps attenuatus (Channing, 2001;Channing and Howell, 2006), the secreted glue of P. shermani is likewise extremely adhesive (von Byern, personal observation). Moreover, the adhesive secretions of P. shermani are not soluble in water, ethanol, acetone or in any of the fixation solutions that were used (von Byern, personal observation).…”

“…The best known examples of adhesive secretions are those in anurans as described for the southern African brevicepitid genus Breviceps (Evans and Brodie, 1994), for Dyscophus spp. (Evans and Brodie, 1994), Kaloula pulchra (Tyler et al, 1992;Tyler and Ramshaw, 2002) and in particular for the limnodynastid frog Notaden bennetti (Graham et al, , 2006(Graham et al, , 2013Tyler, 2010). Notaden secretes a yellow predator-deterring adhesive material dorsally.…”

“…Ambystoma spp., Plethodon spp., Batrachoseps spp., Bolitoglossa spp., Ensatina spp.) (Brodie and Gibson, 1969;Williams and Larsen, 1986;Evans and Brodie, 1994). Species from Asia (e.g.…”

Frog glue enhances rotator cuff repair in a laboratory cadaveric model

“…11 A novel adhesive skin secretion made by an Australian species of frogs (genus Notaden) has been identified and investigated by Professor Michael Tyler. 34 He found this ''frog glue'' to be secreted from dermal glands on the dorsum of the frog when stimulated by natural predators, such as ants, or in the laboratory by a low-voltage electrical current.…”

Hurt yourself to hurt your enemy: new insights on the function of the bizarre antipredator mechanism in the salamandridPleurodeles waltl

“…mimicry) behaviour, the ability to produce skin secretions seems to be an important factor for amphibians to avoid being eaten. Skin secretions can be used to make the animal's surface slippery to promote escape (Stebbins & Cohen, 1997) or to make it sticky to immobilize a predator (Duellman & Trueb, 1994;Evans & Brodie Jr, 1994). Skin secretions can also be unpleasant tasting or irritating to mucous membranes, making the amphibian unpalatable to predators (Brandon, Labanick & Huheey, 1979;Brodie Jr, 1983;Duellman & Trueb, 1994).…”