Amphibians Animals

Amphibians Amphibian: a vertebrate that lives in water as a larva and on land as an adult, breathes with lungs as an adult, has moist skin that contains mucus glands, and lacks scales and claws. – The word amphibian means “double life” referring to the two life stages that all amphibians have. – Found living all over the world

Amphibians Characteristics of Amphibians – A) Have a dual life cycle Eggs are laid and fertilized in water Once hatched, the juvenile amphibian, called a tadpole, lives in water – Breathes through gills – Has a tail and fins and swims through the water Goes through a metamorphosis where it transitions to life on land – Gills disappear and lungs develop – The tail and fins disappear and legs grow and develop

Amphibians Characteristics of Amphibians (cont.) – B) Are carnivores Will feed on almost anything they can capture – C) Have a complex circulatory system Have a 3-chambered heart – More efficient than a 2-chambered heart Circulatory system forms a double loop – One loop carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs and back » Picks up O 2 in the lungs – The second loop carries oxygen-rich blood to the body and back » Delivers O 2 to the cells of the body

Amphibians Groups of Amphibians – A) Salamanders and Newts Belong to the Order Urodela – Have long, slender bodies and 4 legs – B) Frogs and Toads Belong to the Order Anura – Have short bodies and long hind legs that allow them to jump – C) Caecilians Belong to the Order Apoda – Are legless that live in water or moist soil