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Motion sickness in amphibians

R J Wassersug1, A Izumi-Kurotani, M Yamashita

  • 1Department of Biology, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan.

Behavioral and Neural Biology
|July 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Amphibians like frogs and salamanders can experience motion sickness, but with a significant delay between the stimulus and vomiting. This study observed delayed sickness in several species after parabolic flights.

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Area of Science:

  • Comparative physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Space biology

Background:

  • Amphibians, including anurans (frogs) and urodeles (salamanders), have not been extensively studied for motion sickness.
  • Understanding motion sickness in diverse species can provide insights into its underlying mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether amphibians exhibit signs of motion sickness when exposed to parabolic aircraft flights.
  • To compare the responses of different amphibian species to motion stimuli.

Main Methods:

  • Anurans and urodeles were exposed to parabolic aircraft flights simulating microgravity.
  • Vomiting and retching behaviors were monitored during and after flights.
  • Species exhibiting motion sickness were identified and correlated with tumbling during microgravity.

Main Results:

  • No amphibians vomited during parabolic flight, but several anuran species (Rana rugosa, Rana nigromaculata, Hyla japonica, Rhacophorus schlegelii) and one urodele species (Hynobius nebulosus) showed delayed emesis post-flight.
  • Retching without emesis was observed in some frogs during or shortly after flight.
  • The aquatic frog Xenopus laevis and the urodele Cynops pyrrhogaster showed no signs of motion sickness.
  • Species with more tumbling during microgravity exhibited more pronounced motion sickness symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Amphibians, particularly anurans, can experience motion sickness, characterized by a notable delay between the provocative stimulus and emesis.
  • Observed retching behaviors in frogs align with those induced by emetic drugs and suggest a potential explanation for previously observed behaviors in space.
  • The study highlights species-specific differences in susceptibility to motion sickness within amphibians.

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