7 Amazing Animals That Can Freeze And Come Back To Life

There are so many diverse creatures living on this planet. Ferocious animals like the tiger and panther roam the jungles of India. Traveling to the savannahs of Africa, you will see giraffes and gazelles. As you traverse the Amazon in South America, you will likely run into pink dolphins and piranhas. Heading north to North America, the diversity is grand with pumas, coyotes, bears, and more. Then there are the creatures that glow in the dark, but have you ever heard of the amazing animals that can freeze and come back to life? They exist and it’s a unique marvel! Let’s take a look at the seven amazing animals that can freeze and come back to life.

Arctic Wooly Bear Caterpillar

There are so many caterpillar species out there, ranging from harmless ones to those that can sting you if you touch them. There’s a particular type of caterpillar called the Arctic Wooly Bear Caterpillar that can withstand freezing temperatures. These caterpillars roam around near the Arctic and these creatures have a type of sugar in their blood that protects them from freezing temperatures, which is how they can survive. Before becoming moths, these creatures are usually caterpillars for a long time — about seven years.

Alligator

Floridians have many reasons to be afraid of alligators. These ferocious creatures can get into pools or backyards. They can even roam around golf courses threatening the scores of retired golfers. Alligators can also freeze but not die. How do these wild creatures do this? It’s simple. When the lake or pond they are living in freezes, they can break through the ice with their muzzles and breathe through there. Their entire bodies may be frozen solid, but their muzzles will be able to breathe until the body of water warms.

Darkling Beetle

The darkling beetle is what humans call the members of the Tenebrionidae beetle family. There are more than 20,000 species and these beetles are located all over the world. One such darkling beetle lives in Alaska; believe it or not, it can survive in temperatures of -100 degrees Fahrenheit. The beetle freezes at 19 degrees Fahrenheit and when thawed, it can start walking again. How? This type of darkling beetle creates xylomannan, which is a sugar-based antifreeze. This is how this beetle can survive these intense temperatures.

Iguana

These amazing reptiles can be great pets, as well. But out in the wild, sometimes there are temperatures that normal animals may not be able to withstand. Iguanas can. They freeze if the temperature goes below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Although they can be frozen, they can still defend themselves and “wake up” from their frozen state. The actuality of the matter is iguanas can live for a long time — up to 60 years depending on the species.

Painted Turtle Hatchling

Painted turtles are some of the most amazing animals and they cannot survive in freezing temperatures. However, their hatchlings can. Painted turtles are often found in freshwater like lakes and rivers throughout Canada and the United States. The painted turtle hatchlings can live in areas that are quite harsh and near freezing. The reason for this is that they have produced higher levels of glycerol and glucose, which serve as antifreeze.

Tardigrade

Tardigrades are only one millimeter big. They live in the water and if you’re not careful, you may not even see them. These creatures can survive temperatures of -359 degrees Fahrenheit. They can also be boiled and exposed to hazardous radiation and still survive. Yes, the tardigrade is quite strong. The reason? Scientists think that they can employ a cryptobiosis state to remain “dead” but then come alive again.

Wood Frog

This fascinating creature can freeze its body, including the frog’s brain and eye lenses. everything stops working and is completely frozen during winter until spring arrives. The frog thaws out and starts to run around once more. But how, you ask? Wood frogs have these germinating proteins and they have the ability to drain water out of the frog’s cells. Once the weather warms, water starts to run into the frog’s system once again. It’s as simple as that and a phenomenon that has fascinated scientists since they discovered that.