Britannica Sources used in this answer

Where do frogs and salamanders stay dormant during cold or dry periods?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The image shows a group of Virginia big-eared bats sleeping upside down in a dark cavern. — Dormancy Virginia big-eared bats (*Corynorhinus townsendii virginianushibernating*) are true hibernators, entering a state close to death for much of the winter.

To survive cold or dry periods, frogs and salamanders enter a state of dormancy by seeking out protective niches that shield them from harsh environmental conditions.1

During cold periods, these amphibians often aggregate in large numbers in moist terrestrial environments, such as rotting logs, the mud at the bottom or along the banks of ponds and marshes, or in springs. Some more terrestrially oriented species, such as toads, may overwinter in solitary burrows on land. Salamanders may also occupy caves or retreat underground into crevices in the soil or burrows created by other animals.12

During dry seasons, some frogs may remain dormant in a mud cocoon, which is formed from layers of hardened, molted skin to help conserve moisture. Other specialized frogs may hide in the water-filled axils of bromeliad plants, sometimes using their heads to plug the opening and trap moisture inside. These adaptive behaviors allow amphibians to survive until environmental conditions become favorable again.134