A rare and primitive frog living in a remote Borneo stream has no lungs and
apparently absorbs oxygen through its skin, researchers said on Wednesday
(April 16).

 JAKARTA, INDONESIA (APRIL 16, 2008) REUTERS -

 The aquatic frog has evolved backwards, re-acquiring a primordial
trait, according to Djoko Iskandar, a professor from Bandung Institute of
Technology. Iskandar found the species 30 years ago.
    "Well, this is no a new species because I (have) described this
species 30 years ago. But during that time we only have one specimen and then
about ten years later Singapore Museum obtained the second specimen. So, since
those specimens are too precious to nobody will destroy the unique
specimen," said Iskandar.
    Studying the frog could help shed light on how lungs evolved in the
first place.
    "Initially nobody knows that it does not have lung. We just found
it very recently that it is lungless but not before. And this is the only
species known to science up to present that has no lung. But in the
salamanders there is about 300 species that are lungless, in salamanders. But
not in frogs," said Iskandar
    Iskandar said only animals with small body sizes, slow metabolisms and
living in fast-flowing cold water where oxygen and carbon dioxide are
exchanged quickly may be able to survive without lungs.
    "With swift, clean, cold moving water I think for the species the
oxygen taken from skin is already enough. That is why the evolution moved that
they don't really need lung," said Iskandar.
    The first case of complete lunglessness in a frog, Barbourula
Kalimantanensis was found in the Indonesian part of Borneo now may be
endangered because of mining activity had destroyed all suitable habitats in
the vicinity.
    "The original are where the frog was found is now destroyed caused
by illegal mining and probably also by illegal logging," said
Iskandar.
    Iskandar said this species, was only paleatic species species that
evolve in Europe and Northern Asia. Most of frogs in Indonesia were oriental
species that is different from paleatic. This lungless frog was the only
paleatic frog in the country and this species belong to the one of the most
primitive frog family in the world.