There are many challenges of reducing the size of objects. We have seen this process with cell phones and other devices, and it is called Miniaturization.
In living beings, being small, really small, has also imposed some challenges to their functioning and how they cope with the environment. A group of remarkable vertebrates whose size is often smaller than 2.5cm are toadlets that only occupy the forest floor of the Atlantic Rainforest is the genus Brachycephalus.
Brachycephallus toadlets are beautiful from their outside (and their inside), are they? The pictured species above, B. ephippium, remains to be anatomically studied regarding its mineralized dermal layer. (Photo by GM)
With Renata Mari, Fabio Vannucchi, Marcos R. Bornschein and a bunch of colleague from UNESP in São Vicente, and Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), we have anatomically described a dermal layer of 11 species of Brachycephalus that may accumulate Calcium. We discovered that the amount of this mineral and the heterogeneity of the toadlets' skin may be an adaptive response that allowed some of these animals to reduce water loss.
Thirsty for more details? Check the paper here!