Amphibian Classification and Characteristics
by Owen Borville
March 9, 2021
Biology, Science, Learning
The amphibians are vertebrate animals including: Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, Caecilians
Amphibians are characterized as relatively small, cold-blooded, vertebrate animals, living both in water and on land. Amphibians uniquely need water and a moist environment to survive. Their larvae (young offspring) grow and mature in the water and come later onto land. Amphibian larvae breathe through gills like fish, but later adult amphibians develop lungs for breathing. Amphibians can breathe and absorb water through their lungs and their skin. Amphibians lay un-shelled eggs that are fertilized outside the body. Amphibians have moist, smooth, slimy skin. Amphibians are carnivorous and have unique vocal patterns among the various species. Amphibians usually have four limbs or legs with webbed back feet. Amphibians have a three-chambered heart.
The egg-larva-adult life cycle for amphibians is uniquely impressive, transitioning from living in water to breathing air on land. Amphibian skin is soft, smooth, moist, and warty in contrast to reptiles, who have hard and scaly skin. Amphibians live in a variety of moist, wet freshwater environments where there is both freshwater and vegetation on land. These environments would include forests, grassy land, streams, lakes, marshes, ponds, and swamps.
Frogs have longer legs than toads that help in jumping ability. Toads have shorter legs and prefer to crawl than hop. Toad skin is dryer and more warty than frogs' smooth, slimy skin.
Some amphibians have unique athletic ability. The back legs of frogs are designed for jumping up to 20 times their body length in distance or height. Frogs have unique long, sticky, soft, flexible tongues used to capture prey by quickly extending the tongue outward.
Salamanders look like small lizards, but have the characteristic amphibian smooth, slimy skin. Salamanders have a unique ability to regrow legs that have been torn off by predators. Salamanders are semi-aquatic, spending time in both water and land.
Caecilians are the unique, limbless variety of amphibians that are worm or snake-like and have characteristics of many animals, including amphibians and reptiles, making them difficult to classify. Despite looking like worms, caecilians have a skull and backbone, making them even more unique. Their non-scaly, shiny skin and lack of a tail makes their front and rear indistinguishable and distinguishes them from snakes. Their skin uniquely features ring-shaped folds across the body length.
by Owen Borville
March 9, 2021
Biology, Science, Learning
The amphibians are vertebrate animals including: Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, Caecilians
Amphibians are characterized as relatively small, cold-blooded, vertebrate animals, living both in water and on land. Amphibians uniquely need water and a moist environment to survive. Their larvae (young offspring) grow and mature in the water and come later onto land. Amphibian larvae breathe through gills like fish, but later adult amphibians develop lungs for breathing. Amphibians can breathe and absorb water through their lungs and their skin. Amphibians lay un-shelled eggs that are fertilized outside the body. Amphibians have moist, smooth, slimy skin. Amphibians are carnivorous and have unique vocal patterns among the various species. Amphibians usually have four limbs or legs with webbed back feet. Amphibians have a three-chambered heart.
The egg-larva-adult life cycle for amphibians is uniquely impressive, transitioning from living in water to breathing air on land. Amphibian skin is soft, smooth, moist, and warty in contrast to reptiles, who have hard and scaly skin. Amphibians live in a variety of moist, wet freshwater environments where there is both freshwater and vegetation on land. These environments would include forests, grassy land, streams, lakes, marshes, ponds, and swamps.
Frogs have longer legs than toads that help in jumping ability. Toads have shorter legs and prefer to crawl than hop. Toad skin is dryer and more warty than frogs' smooth, slimy skin.
Some amphibians have unique athletic ability. The back legs of frogs are designed for jumping up to 20 times their body length in distance or height. Frogs have unique long, sticky, soft, flexible tongues used to capture prey by quickly extending the tongue outward.
Salamanders look like small lizards, but have the characteristic amphibian smooth, slimy skin. Salamanders have a unique ability to regrow legs that have been torn off by predators. Salamanders are semi-aquatic, spending time in both water and land.
Caecilians are the unique, limbless variety of amphibians that are worm or snake-like and have characteristics of many animals, including amphibians and reptiles, making them difficult to classify. Despite looking like worms, caecilians have a skull and backbone, making them even more unique. Their non-scaly, shiny skin and lack of a tail makes their front and rear indistinguishable and distinguishes them from snakes. Their skin uniquely features ring-shaped folds across the body length.
