AMPHIBIANS

History of Amphibians

Earliest known amphibians evolved from the lobe-finned fish 400 million years ago.

The lobe-finned fish had strong fins the eventually turned into legs.

Their skull is very similar to the earliest amphibians.

Characteristics

Live in the water most of the time when they are young, and on land most of the time as adults.

Cold-blooded Can breathe through their

skin. This is called osmosis. No teeth. Some have sticky tongues

or no tongues. They have glands that

produce a slimy mucus to help them conserve moisture and prevent too much water from being absorbed into the body.

Housing & Equipment

Most amphibians are best kept in a rectangular aquarium.

Tadpoles and amphibians who live mostly in water will need a aquatic habitat.

Amphibians that live on both water and land will need a semi aquatic habitat.

Amphibians that live mostly on land will need a woodland habitat.

The temperature of the aquarium will depend on the specie.

Types of Amphibians

There are three groups of amphibians: anurans, caudatas, and gymnophionas.

Anurans include frogs and toads. Caudatas include newts and

salamanders. Gymnophionas include caecilians.

Frog breeds

Tree frog Blue Dart Frog Yellow Posion Dart Frog Fire-bellied frog

Salamander and Newt Breed

Blue Ridged Two Line Salamander

Dusky Salamander Mountain Dusky

Salamander Seal Salamander Rough Skinned

Newt Red Bellied Newt Sierra Newt

Feeding

Insects and spiders, slugs, and worms. Some species will eat birds and small

rodents. Some of the aquatic species eat plants

and dead animals. Tadpoles will eat plants mostly. They can

also be fed rabbit, dog, or cat food pellets, or baby food.

Reproduction

FROGS SALAMANDERS & NEWTS

Breed in the water Eggs attach to plants in

the water The eggs hatch into

tadpoles. Tadpoles go through

metamorphosis in which they develop legs, eyelids, jaws, and lungs. They lose their tails.

Most breed in the water.

The babies look like a smaller version of the adults. They have external gills. If they move onto land, they loose their gills.

Supplies

Decoration for their aquariums. Food Food and Water Dishes Health Care stuff Lighting Humidity control

Other facts

They come in a wide variety of colors. Body temperature changes according to the

temperature of it’s surroundings. There are about 6000 known species of

amphibians They were the first 4 limbed vertebrae to live on

land. Amphibians mean “double life”.

Sources

Textbook Google images Wikipedia