Amphibians

__**Amphibian Facts:**__ - Amphibians means “double life” (live in water and land) - Amphibians are a link between fish and reptiles - Believed to have evolved from the lobe finned fish
 * Characteristics:**

Body Structure: - Legs (tetrapods) - Moist Skin

Body Function: - Primitive lungs & diffusion through skin for respiration (gills for tadpoles) - Three-chambered heart - Ectotherms (cold-blooded) - Body temperature changes with the environment

Reproduction: - External fertilization - External development in aquatic egg - Must return to water to lay eggs

Metamorphosis: - Eggs - Tadpole (loses gills, tail and grows legs) - Adult

Classification & Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Amphibia Orders: Caudata, Anura, Caecilia

Order Caudata: - Salamanders (amphibians with tails, smooth skin) - Newts are salamanders that live only in water o Mudpuppy – largest local salamander (2 feet) o Japanese Hellbender – largest in world (5 feet)

Order Caecilia: - Limbless amphibians - Live in tropical climates - Usually blind - Ex: Caecilians

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


 * Photos:**


 * Picture 1:** The Rio Pescado Stubfoot Toad was thought to be extinct due to the deadly chytrid fungus that has killed off millions of amphibians, but was recently rediscovered.
 * Citation:** http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/pictures/110217-extinct-frogs-species-science-amphibians-lost/#/lost-frogs-found-rio-pescado-stubfoot-toad_32367_600x450.jpg


 * Picture 2:** Blue Poison Dart Frogs, like these, don't have webbed toes and are poor swimmers, so they are never found in the water.
 * Citation:** http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/photos/poison-dart-frogs/#/two-blue-poison_3325_600x450.jpg


 * Picture 3:** This Gastric Brooding Frog was last seen in 1985 in Australia. For reproduction, the female swallowed her eggs, raised the tadpoles in her stomach, and gave birth to the froglets through their mouths.
 * Citation:** http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/08/photogalleries/100810-ten-lost-extinct-amphibians-frogs-science-environment-pictures/#/lost-frogs-gastric-brooding-frog_24388_600x450.jpg


 * Picture 4:** The Jackson's Climbing Salamander is believed to have disappeared in 1975.
 * Citation:** http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/08/photogalleries/100810-ten-lost-extinct-amphibians-frogs-science-environment-pictures/#/lost-frogs-jacksons-climbing-salamander_24391_600x450.jpg


 * Picture 5:** The warty or great crested newts are found only in Europe. These amphibians are the largest newts in Europe.
 * Citation:** []

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 * Videos:**

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 * Article: []**