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Amphibian Taxonomy. Amphibian Basics. Ectothermic vertebrates 3 Chambered heart Glandular Skin Cryptic Scaleless. Metamorphosis. Aquatic to land Primary Changes: -Legs -Lungs -Eyes -Tail (anurans) -Skin. http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/art/tadpole-to-frog.gif.
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Amphibian Basics Ectothermic vertebrates 3 Chambered heart Glandular Skin Cryptic Scaleless
Metamorphosis Aquatic to land Primary Changes: -Legs -Lungs -Eyes -Tail (anurans) -Skin http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/art/tadpole-to-frog.gif
Metamorphosis Exceptions Environmental stress induction Terrestrial egg metamorphosis http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356774,00.html
Timeline for Metamorphosis Weeks to years Species and environment dependent
Taxonomy-Three Orders Caudata Anura Gymnophiona
Order Differences Limbs Tails Vision Fertilization
Salamander vs. Lizard Water requirements Skin Eggs & young AMPHIBIAN VS. REPTILE
Size-Largest -Chinese Giant Salamander-up to 180 cm -Goliath Frog-up to 32 cm http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2008 www.sandiegozoo.org
Size-Smallest Smallest- Thorius sp. - 15 mm. Eleutherodactylus sp.- 10 mm http://www.state.tn.us/twra/tamp/salamanders.htm http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/FROG.htm
Owning an amphibian • Life Span: up to 55 years! • Aggressive vs. Friendly http://www.maroochy.qld.gov.au
Owning an amphibian Research and Plan!!!!! LIBRARY!!! KNOW Natural History
Pet Trade Restrictions Within the U.S.: ex. African Clawed Frog CITES listings -Appendix I= 16 spp. ~Giant Salamanders -Appendix II- 98 spp. ~Dendrobates www.cites.org
Gymnophiona(caecilians) • 6 families, 172 species • Pantropic • Not kept as pets http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/415329423_cd21aeb1cb_o.jpg
Caudata • 10 families, >500 species • N./S. America, Europe, Asia • Common Pets: -Ambystoma tigrinum (Tiger Salmander) -Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted Salamander) -Cynops pyrrhogaster (Fire Bellied Newt) http://michaelcravens.com
Anura • 33 families, >5000 species • Worldwide* • Common Pets/Research: -Xenopus spp. (African clawed frog) -Rana spp. (Leopard frog) -Dendrobates spp. (Poison arrow frog) -Hylidae family. (Tree frogs) http://www.johnelkington.com/weblog/african_clawed_frog_500w.jpg
Frog vs. Toad http://www.isd12.org/bhe/ http://64.226.23.133/woodycarr/images/toad.jpg -Water -Skin -Leg length and power -Predators
Dendrobates Poison dart frogs Red-backed poison dart frog