AmphibiansAmphibians
AmphibiansAmphibians
VertebrateVertebrate (backbone) (backbone) EctothermicEctothermic (cold- (cold-
blooded)blooded) Must absorb heat from Must absorb heat from
externalexternal sources sources When environment When environment
becomes too hot or too becomes too hot or too cold, many amphibians cold, many amphibians become become dormant dormant (inactive (inactive or at rest) by burrowing in or at rest) by burrowing in the the mudmud..
Amphibians: MetamorphosisAmphibians: Metamorphosis
All amphibians begin life in All amphibians begin life in waterwater Most amphibian eggs are fertilized Most amphibian eggs are fertilized externallyexternally Eggs do not have Eggs do not have shellsshells (moist; must lay in water) (moist; must lay in water)
Amphibians: MetamorphosisAmphibians: Metamorphosis
Fertilized eggs hatched Fertilized eggs hatched into into tadpolestadpoles (larval (larval stage)stage) Tadpoles have Tadpoles have finsfins, , gillsgills, ,
and a and a 22-chambered heart-chambered heart
Tadpoles develop into Tadpoles develop into adultsadults Develop Develop legslegs, , lungslungs, and a , and a
33-chambered heart-chambered heart
Amphibians: RespirationAmphibians: Respiration
Tadpoles obtain Tadpoles obtain oxygen from oxygen from waterwater that passes over gillsthat passes over gills
Adults have lungs so Adults have lungs so that they can that they can exchange gases with exchange gases with the airthe air
Adults also exchange Adults also exchange gases through their gases through their thin, moist thin, moist skinskin
Salamander tadpole with feathery gills extended
Amphibians: CirculationAmphibians: Circulation
Tadpole – 2-Tadpole – 2-chambered heart and chambered heart and a a single loopsingle loop of of vesselsvessels
Adult – 3-chambered Adult – 3-chambered heart and heart and two loopstwo loops of vessels (needed of vessels (needed for life on land)for life on land)
Types of Amphibians:Types of Amphibians:
Order Anura – Order Anura – frogs & toadsfrogs & toads Do not have Do not have tailstails; feed on insects and worms; have ; feed on insects and worms; have
jaws and teeth; frogs have jaws and teeth; frogs have long long legs and legs and smoothsmooth skin; toads have skin; toads have bumpybumpy skin and skin and shortshort legs legs
Types of Amphibians:Types of Amphibians:
Order Caudata – Order Caudata – salamanderssalamanders Long, slender body with Long, slender body with neckneck and and tailtail; smooth, moist ; smooth, moist
skin and no skin and no clawsclaws; some live in water, others in ; some live in water, others in damp places; hatch from eggs, adults are damp places; hatch from eggs, adults are carnivorouscarnivorous
Types of AmphibiansTypes of Amphibians
Order Gymnophiona – caeciliansOrder Gymnophiona – caecilians BurrowBurrow into the ground; no into the ground; no limbslimbs; short or no tail; ; short or no tail;
live in warm, live in warm, tropicaltropical climates; usually climates; usually blindblind; eat ; eat earthworms; earthworms; internalinternal fertilization fertilization
Comparison of HeartsComparison of Hearts
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