Amphibians

1. By Shawnee Stevens Amphibians

2. Salamanders • Mature salamanders generally have a primitive tetra pod body form similar to that of lizards, with slender bodies, long tails, and four limbs. However, like some lizards, many species of salamander have reduced or absent limbs, giving them a more eel-like appearance. Most species have limbs with four toes on the forelimbs, and five on the hind limbs, and lack claws. Salamanders are often brightly colored, either in both sexes throughout the year, or only in the males, especially during the breeding season. However, the species dwelling entirely underground are often white or pink, lacking any skin pigment. • To find their prey, salamanders use trichromaticcolor vision in the ultraviolet range based on two photoreceptor types maximally sensitive around 450 nm, 500 nm and 570 nm. Permanently subterranean salamanders have reduced eyes, which may even be covered by a layer of skin. The larvae, and the adults of some highly aquatic species, also have a lateral line organ, similar to that of fish, which can detect changes in water pressure. Salamanders have no external ear, and only a vestigial middle ear.

3. Frogs • Frogs are amphibians in the orderAnura (meaning "tail-less", from Greek an-, without + oura, tail), formerly referred to as Salientia (Latin salere (salio), "to jump"). Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits (fingers or toes), protruding eyes and the absence of a tail. Frogs are widely known as exceptional jumpers, and many of the anatomical characteristics of frogs, particularly their long, powerful legs, are adaptations to improve jumping performance. Due to their permeable skin, frogs are often semi-aquatic or inhabit humid areas, but move easily on land. They typically lay their eggs in puddles, ponds or lakes, and their larvae, called tadpoles, have gills and develop in water. Adult frogs follow a carnivorous diet, mostly of arthropods, annelids and gastropods. Frogs are most noticeable by their call, which can be widely heard during the night or day, mainly in their mating season. • The morphology of frogs is unique among amphibians. Compared with the other two groups of amphibians, (salamanders and caecilians), frogs are unusual because they lack tails as adults and their legs are more suited to jumping than walking. The physiology of frogs is generally like that of other amphibians (and differs from other terrestrial vertebrates) because oxygen can pass through their highly permeable skin. This unique feature allows frogs to "breathe" largely through their skin.[citation needed] Because the oxygen is dissolved in an aqueous film on the skin and passes from there to the blood, the skin must remain moist at all times; this makes frogs susceptible to many toxins in the environment, some of which can similarly dissolve in the layer of water and be passed into their bloodstream. This may be the cause of the decline in frog populations.

4. Caecilians • The caecilians (pronounced /siːˈsɪliən/) are an order (Gymnophiona) of amphibians that superficially resemble earthworms or snakes. They mostly live hidden in the ground, which makes them one of the least known orders of amphibians. All extant caecilians and their closest fossil relatives are grouped as the clade Apoda. • Caecilians completely lack limbs, making the smaller species resemble worms, while the larger species with lengths up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) resemble snakes. The tail is short or absent, and the cloaca is near the end of the body. • Their skin is smooth and usually dark-matte, but some species have colorful skins. Inside the skin are calcitescales. Because of these scales, the caecilians were once thought to be related to the fossil Stegocephalia, but they are now believed to be a secondary development, and the two groups are most likely unrelated.The skin also has numerous ring-shaped folds, or annuli, that partially encircle the body, giving them a segmented appearance. Like other living amphibians, the skin contains glands that secrete a toxin to deter predators.The skin secretions of Siphonops paulensis have been shown to have hemolytic properties

5. Newts • A newt is an amphibian of the Salamandridae family, although not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts. Newts are classified in the subfamily Pleurodelinae of the family Salamandridae, and are found in North America, Europe and Asia. Newts metamorphose through three distinct developmental life stages: aquatic larva, terrestrial juvenile (called an eft)and adult. Adult newts have lizard-like bodies and may be either fully aquatic, living permanently in the water, or semi-aquatic, living terrestrially but returning to the water each year. • Many newts produce toxins in their skin secretions as a defense mechanism against predators. Taricha newts of western North America are particularly toxic. The Rough-skinned newtTaricha granulosa of the Pacific Northwest produces more than enough tetrodotoxin to kill an adult human, and some Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest used the toxin to poison their enemies.[7] More recently, a 29-year-old man in Coos Bay, Oregon, who had been drinking heavily, swallowed a rough-skin newt for a dare; he died later that day despite hospital treatment. • Most newts can be safely handled, provided that the toxins they produce are not ingested or allowed to come in contact with mucous membranes, or breaks in the skin. After handling, proper hand-washing techniques should be followed due to the risk from the toxins they produce and bacteria they carry, such as salmonella.[8][9] It is, however, illegal to handle or disturb Great Crested Newts in the UK without a licence.

6. What is a amphibian This is a page dedicated to amphibians

7. Toads • A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin, brown coloration, and wart-like parotoid glands. A distinction between frogs and toads, though common in popular culture, is not made in taxonomy, where toads are spread across families Bufonidae, Bombinatoridae, Discoglossidae, Pelobatidae, Rhinophrynidae, Scaphiopodidae, and Microhylidae. The characteristic features of toads are a result of convergent evolution in dry habitats. A group of toads is called a "Knot." • Fun fact its they don’t give you warts • Toads cannot transmit warts to people through handling or skin contact. The bumps on a toad's skin help the animal blend into its environment visually by breaking up its outline. Also, the paratoid gland is often mistaken as 'warts'. They are present on healthy specimens and are not a result of infection.

8. Corroboree FrogThe corroboree frog is found only in a narrow region of moss-covered bogs in the high-altitude forests of New South Wales, Australia. Are they endangered Western Leopard ToadThe western leopard toad is the largest South African toad. • Yes well some these listed below are Blue-Sided Tree FrogThe blue-sided tree frog has golden eyes, a green-blue back, blue sides and a pinkish underbelly. Panamanian Golden FrogThe Panamanian golden frog is bright yellow or orange with black markings and long limbs. Goliath FrogThe aptly named Goliath frog is the world's largest frog species. Golden Poison FrogThe golden poison frog is found in the moist mountain forests of the Colombian Andes. Chinese Giant SalamanderOften growing to a length of 6 feet or more, they are among the largest amphibians in the world. California Tiger SalamanderThe California tiger salamander is a dark, stocky amphibian with white or yellow spots and a broad, rounded snout.

9. Western Leopard Toad The endangered ones Panamanian Golden Frog Corroboree Frog California Tiger Salamander Goliath Frog Golden Poison Frog Blue-Sided Tree Frog Chinese Giant Salamander Mostly frogs

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