About Budgette Frogs

• • Budgett’s frogs are distinctive-looking amphibians with a flattened body and a broad, rounded head.
  • These frogs are native to South America, specifically in parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
  • Budgett’s frogs are found in areas with slow-moving or stagnant water, such as ponds, marshes, and slow streams.
  • Budgett’s frogs are carnivorous and feed on a variety of small prey, including insects, small fish, and other aquatic invertebrates.
  • Budgett’s frogs are highly intelligent and aggressive in nature. Usually when frightened, they inflate themselves, stand up on their short legs and if this doesn’t deter the potential predator, they lunge at them with an open huge mouth followed up by a shrill shriek.
  • During the dry season, Budgett’s frogs remain in burrows they dig in the bottoms of pools of water.
  • While in the burrow, they shed several layers of skin from which to form a waterproof cocoon. 
  • During the rainy season they go back to the waters to breed and feed.

• IUCN Red list: Least Concern

Findings of the study

• The peptides produced from the skin of Budgette frogs have been found to inhibit two key enzymes called subtilisin carlsberg and proteinase K, usually produced by disease causing pathogens.
• These enzymes play a vital role in promoting infections by degrading important protective proteins of infected persons.

Why in news?

• Researchers have revealed that peptides derived from the skin of Budgette frogs possess the ability to combat enzymes produced by pathogens.