Amphibian

Evolution from water to land
Ø ** Amphibian Characteristics ** · Amphibian: means “double life” - Live in water and on land · Amphibians are a link between fish and reptile · Believed to have evolved from the lobe finned fish Ø ** Body structure ** · Legs (tetrapoda) · Moist skin Ø ** Body function ** · Primitive lings and diffusion through skin for respiration - Gills as tadpoles · Three- chambered heart · Ectotherms (cold-blooded) - Body temperature changes with the environment Ø ** Reproduction ** · External fertilization · External development in aquatic egg · Must return to water to lay eggs!!! Ø ** Metamorphosis ** · A- Eggs · B-E- Tadpole stages · F- Adult (loose gills—loose tail—grow legs) Ø ** Amphibian Taxonomy ** § Kingdom: Animalia - Phylum: Chordata § Subphylum: vertebrata · Class Amphibia · Orders: Caudata, Anura, Caecilia Ø **Order:** Caudata · Salamanders · Amphibians with tails, smooth skin · Examples 1. Newts are salamanders that live only in water 2. Mud puppy—largest local salamander (2 feet) 3. Japanese Hellbender—largest in world (5 feet) Ø **Order:** Anura · Limbless amphibians · Live in tropical climates · Usually blind · Ex. Caecilians Ø **Order:** Caecilia · General info - Some are poisonous - Vocal cords produce sounds for mating - Frogs (more aquatic) - Toads (more terrestrial)

media type="custom" key="8718966" This is a picture of the Gardiner's Seychelles frog,it measures only 11 millimeters long,and is the world's smallest frog known. __ [] __ This is a pic of a Chinese Giant Salamander, it is currently on a list of an at-risk animal. __ [] __ This is a pic of a Sagalla Caecilian,which is an amphibian with tentacles that are on the side of their head that are used for sensory. [] This amphibian is called the Great Crested Newt becasue of it jagged edge on it's back,i is also known as the warty newt. [] This is the well-known red-eyed tree frog,with red eyes and orange feet.They are most native to the South American Rainforests.For camouflage,it sleeps during the day with it's eyes closed on the bottom of a leaf,so that it will blend in with it's green surroundings.It is believed that their red-eyes are meant for predators to think twice about what they may be eating. []

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