Amphibians

Amphibians: Evolution from water to land

- Amphibians Characteristics - Live in water and on land
 * Amphibians:means "double life"
 * Amphibians are a link between fish and reptiles
 * Believed to have evolved from the lobe finned fish

- Body structure
 * legs(tetrapods)
 * moist skin

- Body Function - Gills as tadpoles - Body temperature changes with the environment
 * Primitive lungs and diffusion through skin for respiration
 * three- chambered heart
 * Ectiotherms(cold-blooded)

- Reproduction
 * external fertilization
 * external development in aquatic egg
 * Must return to water to lay eggs!!!!!

- Metamorphosis - Lose gills - Lose tail -Grow legs
 * A-eggs
 * B-E- Tadpole stages
 * F-G- adult

- Amphibian Taxonomy
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Chordata
 * Subphylum: Vertebrata
 * Class: Amphibian
 * Orders: Caudata, Anura, Caecilia

-Order Chordata: Salamanders
 * Amphibians with tails, smooth skin
 * Example:
 * 1) Newts are salamanders that live only in water
 * 2) Mudpuppy- largest local salamander (2feet)
 * 3) Japenese hellbender- largest in world(5 feet)

-Order Caecilia
 * limbless amphibians
 * live in tropical climates
 * Usually blind
 * Ex: Caecilians

-Order Anura - General Info
 * Some are poisonous
 * Vocal chords produce sounds for mating
 * Frogs(more aquatic)
 * Toads(more terrestrial)



This is a photo of a Red Eft. This amphibian lives in woodland areas in North America. Its red color reminds animals that it is posinous.

THis is a picture of a Blue Tailed fire bellied newt. This amphibian is found in China. It's tail can become blue in color and has a bright orange belly.



This is a picture of a mudpuppy. This amphibian is the largest salamander. They live in the bottom of lakes or rivers and never leave the water.

Videos [] A video of a japenese hellbender, the worlds largest amphibian, eating a fish. media type="custom" key="8738882" A video of the life cycle of the red-eyed tree frog. Tiger- Salamander, found in North America



A mexican Axolotls has pink feathery gills