Amphibians
"Amphibian" comes from the
Greek meaning "both life".
Amphibians can live on water
and on land.
Scientist infer that amphibians
evolved from lobe-finned fishes
called Crossopterygians.
Crossopterygian
Crossopterygians had no gills but they had internal nostrils and a
primitive lung that may have enabled them then to respire for periods
of time on land.
Characteristic
s of
Amphibians
Amphibians are cold-
blooded
(Ectothermic), i.e.
their blood
temperature
conforms with that of
their immediate
environment
They use gills, lungs, skin, and mouth
cavity in respiration.
They have moist, smooth, thin skin with no
scales.
Feet are webbed and the toes lack claws.
Amphibians have many prominent characteristics that
are adaptations to a life spent both on land and in water:
They change from an aquatic larval stage to a terrestrial
adult
form.
This transformation is called metamorphosis
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Amphibians enter a state of dormancy
or torpor when conditions are
unfavorable.
They often bury themselves in mud or
leaves, emerging when conditions are
better.
Such states of inactivity
are known as known as:
Hibernation when it occurs
in the winter
Aestivation when it occurs
in the summer
Eggs lack multicellular membranes or shells.
They are usually laid in water or in a moist environment
and fertilized externally.
Larvae are characterized with two-chambered hearts.
Adults have three-chambered hearts and well-
developed circulation.
Classification of
Chordates
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Biologists have identified about 2,375
living species of amphibians and have
classified them into three main Orders
Anura/Salientia – Frogs & Toads
Urodela/Caudata – Salamanders &
Newts
Apoda/Gymnophiona - Caecillians
Frogs and toads make up the
Order Anura/Salientia
("without a tail").
Salamanders and other amphibians
with legs and tails make up the
Order Urodela/Caudata ("visible
tail").
Apoda/ Gymnophiona
This includes caecilians, a tropical,
burrowing worm-like and limb-less
amphibians
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Urodelan/Caudata
Characteristics
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Salamanders and Newts have elongated bodies,
long tails, and smooth, moist skin
Compared to the anurans, salamanders are less
able to remain on dry land, although some can
live in dry areas by remaining inactive during
the day
Limbs are of equal size and set at right angle to
the body
Eggs are laid in water and like anurans they
hatch into swimming larva
Other species can reproduce in damp
ecosystems, and such laid eggs hatch into
Apodan/Gymnophiona
Characteristics
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Caecilians, members of the Order Apoda,
compose a highly specialized group of
tropical burrowing amphibians
These legless wormlike creatures
average 30 cm long, but they can be up
to 1.3m long.
They have very small eyes and are
often blind.
They eat worms and other
invertebrates
The caecilian male deposits sperm directly
into the female, and the female bears live
young
Anuran/Salientia
Characteristics
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Frogs and toads comprise the
Order Anura
There are about 3,500 known
species of frogs and 300
kinds of toads
They are found on every
continent except Antarctica
Some types spend their entire life in or
near water.
Other live mainly on land and come to the
water only to reproduction
Some frogs and toads are climbers that
dwell in trees or burrowers that live
underground
Toads and frogs have many similarities in their
morphology.
Some basic differences between them are:
toads have dry, warty skin, while frogs have
smooth, wet skin.
Both frogs and toads return to water to
reproduce.
In nearly all species eggs are fertilized
externally.
The fertilized eggs hatch into swimming larval
forms called tadpoles
Frog External
Anatomy
The frog's powerful hind legs are equally
effective in jumping or swimming.
The short/stout forelimbs and designed for
absorbing the weight of the body when
landing
On land frogs sit with their hind legs folded
against the body, poised to jump at the first
sign of danger.
Most frogs can make leaps many times their
body length
Frog's eyes also work equally well in or out of
water. Eyes bulge out from the head, hence
allow for acute vision even frogs are
submerged
Blinking eyelids protect the frog's eyes from
dust and dehydration
In addition to the two eyelids, a third transparent eyelid
called a nictitating membrane covers each eyeball and
joins the lower eyelid
This membrane keeps the eyelid moist and
protects it when it is under water
Frogs have eardrums, or tympanic
membranes, which are circular
structures located behind each eye
Tympanic
membrane
The frog's thick, moist skin
serves two important functions
— respiration and protection
Glands secrete mucus to keep
it from drying up
Some glands secrete foul-tasting or
poisonous substances that protect the
frog from predators
Some frogs, such as Hyla
versicolor, can change color in
order to blend with the
environment (Camouflage).
Count the
number of
frogs in the
picture?
Frog Internal
Anatomy
Skeletal System
The frog's spine has
nine vertebrae
The cervical vertebra
of the spine allows
neck movement that
helps frogs catch
prey
Frogs and toads
have no ribs
Digestive System
Digestive System
Most frogs feed on insects, and their
digestive system is adapted to their diet
A frog's tongue is an excellent insect
catcher.
The frog simply flicks out its long sticky
tongue, curls it around its prey, and
pulls the insect back into its mouth.
Then the frog snaps its mouth shut and
swallows.
Circulatory System
Deoxygenated blood travels in
veins back to the right atrium
from the various regions of the
body.
Oxygenated blood returns
from the lungs to the left atrium
via the pulmonary veins
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Respiratory System
Tadpoles respire, or
exchange carbon dioxide
and oxygen, through gills
Respiratory System
Adult frogs lose the gills but
can respire in three ways:
through the lungs, through
the skin, and through the
mouth.
Excretory System
Urine and wastes from the
digestive system are eliminated
through the anus.
The Nervous System
The frog brain is more
complex than the fish
brain, enabling better
adaptation to dual
ecosystems
The optic lobes control
vision
The cerebellum, is the
center of balance and
coordination.
Reproductive System
Both male and female frogs
have internal sex organs
The male frog's foreleg
muscles and first fingers
swell to form Amplexus
These swellings help the
male maintain his grasp on
the female
Fertilization is external,
always in aquatic ecosystems
Metamorphosis
Newly hatched tadpoles live
off yolk stored in their
bodies.
They gradually grow larger
and develop three pairs of
gills.
Tadpoles have a two-
chambered heart.
Tadpoles can also
regenerate injured or lost
body parts such as a leg or
tail.
Legs grow from the body,
and the tail disappears.
Ecological/Economic Importance
• Significant component of ecosystem food
chain – primary/secondary consumers
• Ecosystem health indicators
• Edible for humans – commercial viability
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