Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates belonging to the class Amphibia. They are uniquely adapted to live both in water and on land, a dual lifestyle reflected in their name, which means "double life."
- Cold-blooded (ectothermic) animals that regulate body temperature through their environment.
- Exhibit a bimodal lifestyle, spending early life in water (as larvae) and adulthood on land.
- Undergo metamorphosis from aquatic, gill-breathing larvae to air-breathing adults.
- Amphibians
Key Characteristics
- Moist, permeable skin used for respiration and cutaneous gas exchange, requiring moist environments.
- Typical lifecycle includes eggs, larvae (e.g., tadpoles), and adults.
- Most species lay jelly-coated eggs in water, lacking a hard shell.
- Include three main groups: anura (frogs and toads), urodela (salamanders), and apoda (caecilians).
- Overview of Amphibians