INTRODUCTION "Amphibian" comes from the Greek term- Amphibios meaning (amphi- both sides + bios-life)

"both life“ / both kind of life Most amphibians live on land and water(breed in water )Amphibians evolved from lobe-finned fishes called crossopterygians. Biologist conclude that amphibians appeared during the late Devonian period, about 345 million years ago.

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.

Tetrapods- Have four limbs. 3-5 digits on forelimb (most 4) 5 digits on hind limbHave an internal skeleton.

Glandular epidermis Have soft, moist skin without any

dermal scales, fur or feathers. Lose and gain water through

their skin. Are cold-blooded.- Ectothermic. Gills as larvae/juveniles, lungs

present but may degenerate, some with dermal respiration

Live in moist habitats As tadpole in water, they

breathe through gills, and as adults they breathe with lungs. (terrestrial)

Evolutionary adaptations for life on land:1. stronger bones 2. lungs and breathing tubes 3. sternum (breastbone) and ribs to protect internal organs

GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC S OF AMPHIBIANS

AMPHIBIANSKingdom - AnimaliaPhylum - ChordataSubphylum - VertebrataC lass - Amphibia ORDERS

Anura – eg: Frogs & Toads Urodela (Caudata)– eg: Salamanders and Newts Trachystomata – eg: Mud eels, sirens Apoda (Gymnophiona)- eg: Caecillians Temnospondyli (Subclass- Lepospondyli)- extinct now

SURVIVING AMPHIBIANS ONLY THREE ORDERS

URODELA / CAUDATA (Salamanders and Newts)

ANURA (Frogs and Toads)

APODA / GYMNOPHIONA(Caecilians)

INDIAN AMPHIBIAN SPECIES

Salamander : Tylototriton verrucosus

(Himalayan)

Newts : Pleurodeles verrucosus (Himalayan newt)

Frog : Rana tigrina

Toads : Bufo melanostictus

Caecilian : Ichthyophis malabarensis

Order: Caudata (Urodela) Families: 6Ambystomatidae , Amphiumidae ,

Cryptobranchidae, Plethodontiade, Proteidae and Salamandridae

Salamanders and NewtElongated bodies, long tails, and smooth,

moist skin , lives in moist woods Internal fertilization Paedomorphosis (retention by an

organism of juvenile or even larval traits into later life) prevalent

Order: Caudata (Urodela)Other species can reproduce in damp

land environments

Eggs laid on land hatch into

miniature adult salamanders

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

Newt

Necturus maculosusGiant Japanese Salamander

Southern dusky salamander

Ambystoma mexicanum

(Axolotl)

Order: Anura FAMILIES: 5 Bufonidae (toads); Hylidae(tree frog); Ranidae(true frog); Microhylidae

and PelobatidaeFrogs & Toads- many similarities in the way they look. Found on every continent except Antarctica Frogs- smooth, wet skin , Associated with more aquatic habitatsToads: Thicker dry, warty skins; Dryer habitatsHop/jump with legs; Adult has no tail Eggs- fertilized externally. The fertilized eggs hatch into swimming larval

forms called tadpoles Some types spend their entire life in or near water, but others live

mainly on land and come to the water only to mate /reproduce Some frogs and toads are climbers that dwell in trees or burrowers that

live underground.

Really Weird Surinam Toad

Rana catesbeiana

Rana pipiens

Bufo woodhousii

Bufo speciosus

Acris crepitans

Pseudacris clarki

Order: Apoda (Gymnophiona) Characteristics Compose a highly specialized group of tropical burrowing

amphibians - CaeciliansSuperficially resemble earthworms or snakes. Mostly live hidden in the ground, making them the least familiar

order of amphibians. A tropical, burrowing worm-like amphibians that is often Legless Legless wormlike creatures average 30 cm long, can be up to

1.3m long. ; with fishlike scales Very small eyes and are often blind.; Eat worms and other

invertebrates Male deposits sperm directly into the female, and the female

bears live young

Caecilians

An order of tailed aquatic amphibians, including Siren and Pseudobranchus.

Family: 1- SirenidaeThey have anterior legs

only, are eel-like in formNo teeth except a small

patch on the palate. The external gills are

persistent through life.Three living species of Mud

eels, sirens. Sirens live in the eastern

United States and north eastern Mexico.

ORDER : TRACHYSTOMATA

. SIREN

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