Amphibian Information

 

Frogs, Toads, Newts, and Salamanders are all Amphibians.

Amphibians are animals that spend the first part of their lives in water. When they grow up, they are able to live on land. As adults, they live on land near freshwater lakes and ponds.

Amphibians do not have hair, feathers, or scales. They have a skin. This is because amphibians can breathe through their skin, or through their mouth and lungs.

They are cold blooded, which means their body temperature changes with their surroundings. Amphibians that live in cool climates hibernate. This means they sleep for many months during the winter.

They have a backbone (vertebrate).

What is NOT an amphibian??

  • Lizards and snakes are not - because they have dry skin and scales.
  • Worms are not - because they do not have teeth (many amphibians do!), or a backbone.
  • Small fish such as minnows are not - because they have scales and fins.
Snake
Goldfish

Advanced amphibian information:

  • When in danger, amphibians use their color to match their environment to appear invisible.
  • The word Amphibian comes from a Greek word meaning "double life".
  • Most female amphibians must return to water to lay their eggs, but some lay them in trees (above the water).
  • Young amphibians are called larve. They are also called tadpoles or polliwogs.
  • As amphibians grow, they usually lose their gills and tails, grow legs, and begin breathing with their lungs. This is called METAMORPHOSIS. They will then live on land.
  • All amphibians have tails as babies.
  • Some amphibians have no legs, but have tails. They look like worms and are called CAECILIANS.

More Amphibian information:

Bibliography (sources of the above information)

Amazing Frogs and Toads. Clarke, Barry.

Amphibian. Clarke, Barry.

Frogs. Ivy, Bill.

Frogs, Toads, Lizards, and Salamanders. Parker, Nancy.

 

Animals
Aquila's Home Page

Revised: 12-4-2006.

For information, contact John Dyer, Media Specialist, Aquila Primary Center.