1. AMPHIBIANS Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum:
Vertebrata Class: Amphibia FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES
2. What are Amphibians? Amphibians are a class of animals like
reptiles, mammals, and birds. They live the first part of their
lives in the water and the last part on the land. When they hatch
from their eggs, amphibians have gills so they can breathe in the
water. They also have fins to help them swim, just like fish.
Later, their bodies change, growing legs and lungs enabling them to
live on the land. The word "amphibian" means two-lives, one in the
water and one on land. FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES
3. Where do they live? Amphibians have adapted to live in a
number of different habitats including streams, forests, meadows,
bogs, swamps, ponds, rainforests, and lakes. Most of them like to
live in or near water and in damp areas. FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES
4. What do they eat? Adult amphibians are carnivores and
predators. They eat a variety of food including spiders, beetles,
and worms. Some of them, like frogs, have long tongues with sticky
ends that they flick out to catch their prey. The larvae of many
amphibians mostly eat plants. FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES
5. The Class Amphibia (or amphibians) includes three Orders:
Anura (frogs and toads) about 5,800 species Caudata or Urodela
(newts and salamanders) about 580 species Gymnophiona or Apoda
(caecilians) about 170 species FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES
6. General Characteristics of Amphibians They are ectotherms
(often referred to as cold- blooded). This means that amphibians do
not hold their body temperature constant like mammals, but their
internal temperature depends upon that of the surrounding
environment. Amphibians have soft, generally moist skin without
scales. Their eggs do not have shells and so must be laid in water
or a damp environment to keep from drying out. Amphibians go
through a two-stage life cycle. When an amphibian hatches it is in
a gilled larval form. In frogs and toads this larva is called a
tadpole. After a few weeks or months the larvae transform into the
adult form, however it may still take a few years to become mature.
FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES
7. Amphibians are important and beneficial in many ways: They
play an important role in nature as both predator and prey,
sustaining the delicate balance of nature. They eat pest insects,
benefiting successful agriculture around the world and minimizing
the spread of disease, including malaria. The skin of amphibians
has substances that protect them from some microbes and viruses,
offering possible medical cures for a variety of human diseases,
including AIDS. Frogs have had a special place in various human
cultures for centuries, cherished as agents of life and good luck.
FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES
8. Fun Facts about Amphibians Most amphibians have thin, moist
skin that helps them to breathe. Amphibians are considered
vertebrates as they have a backbone. Frogs swallow their food
whole. The size of what they can eat is determined by the size of
their mouths and their stomach. Frogs cannot live in salt water.
All amphibians have gills, some only as larvae and others for their
entire lives. It is a myth that you can get warts from touching a
frog or toad. A group of frogs is called an army. An Amphibian's
skin absorbs air and water. This makes them very sensitive to air
and water pollution. The world amphibian population is in decline.
FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES
9. Amphibians Facts 1: Group Amphibians are categorized in
three groups. Those are caecilians, frogs and toads, and newts and
salamander. Amphibians Facts 2: Frogs and toads Frogs and toads are
included as the largest group in Amphibians. They do not have tail
but they have four legs. There are many kinds of frogs that you can
see spreading in various rainforests. Most bright colored frogs are
poisonous. Amphibians Facts 3: Newts and salamanders Newts and
salamanders are different from frogs and toads. They have four legs
but with a long tail. Salamander will like to spend most of their
life in water. On the other hand, newts like to live on land. They
only go to the water when breeding. Interesting Amphibian Facts
FLOURIE MAE O. OJALES