Small Animal Management
Lesson Title: Amphibian Pets
TEKS Addressed in Lesson:
130.4 (c)(4)(A) – (c )(4)(F)
(A) discuss the physical characteristics for each species studied;
(B) list the breeds or types of each species studied as appropriate;
(C) discuss the habitat, housing, and equipment needs for each species studied;
(D) compare and contrast nutritional requirements for each species studied;
(E) explain health maintenance in each species studied, including the prevention and control of
diseases and parasites;
(F) describe and practice common methods of handling each species studied; and
Lesson Objectives. The student will be able to:
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Identify characteristics specific to amphibians
Classify amphibians into three orders
Identify necessary housing and substrate requirements for amphibian pets
Demonstrate knowledge of proper care and handling of amphibian pets
Key Terms/Vocabulary
Amphibian - a cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that comprises the frogs, toads, newts, and
salamanders. They are distinguished by having an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed by a
terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage.
Cloaca- a common cavity at the end of the digestive tract for the release of both excretory and genital
products in vertebrates and certain invertebrates
Herpetology- the branch of zoology concerned with reptiles and amphibians.
Metamorphosis - the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more
distinct stages.
Newts - small, slender-bodied amphibian with lungs and a well-developed tail, typically spending its
adult life on land and returning to water to breed.
Osmosis - the flow of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration
through a semi permeable membrane
Spermatophore - a capsule containing sperm deposited by the male
Substrate- the surface or material on or from which an organism lives, grows, or obtains its
nourishment.
Interest Approach/Anticipatory Set
Have students use the website below to explore the classification of amphibians.
http://tolweb.org/tree/
Ask students for examples of amphibians. Then ask them to compare amphibians to reptiles. Can they
list the differences?
Some of the examples include: Texture of the skin, where they live and how fertilization and
development occurs.
Teaching Plan and Strategy Presentation of New Material
Teacher PowerPoint that includes the following information:
History of Amphibians
The name amphibian means "double life", and is given to members of this group for the double life that
they lead. For while adult amphibians usually live on land, their soft eggs must be laid in the water. The
eggs shown at left have just been shed by the female. This means that they have not yet been fertilized;
the male sheds sperm over the eggs after they have been released into the water.
Characteristics
To identify an animal as an amphibian, it should have each of these characteristics:
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vertebrates
cold-blooded so they cannot regulate their own body temperature.
spend at least part of their lives in water and on land.
do not have scales and their skin is permeable (molecules and gases can pass through).
Have gills for at least part of their lives. Some species have gills only as larvae, while others can
have gills throughout their lives.
Most go through metamorphosis.
Examples include: frogs, toads, salamanders, caecilians and newts. Some common amphibians
are bullfrogs, American toads, mole salamanders and hellbenders.
Classification of Amphibians
Kingdom-Animalia
Phylum- Chordata
Class- Amphibia
Order- Caudata (Newts and Salamanders)
Family-9 families of amphibians
Genus - 60 groups
Species- over 360 species
Housing and Equipment
Amphibians that are kept as pets require proper environmental conditions in order to remain healthy.
The most important conditions are water and air temperature. Amphibians do not regulate their body
temperature as mammals do, making them very sensitive to climate and temperature. As cold-blooded
animals, amphibians regulate their body temperature by shuttling back and forth between different
temperatures in their environment. The range of temperatures necessary to maintain health varies
between species. Infections and malnutrition are common problems in tropical amphibians kept at less
than ideal temperatures. A thermometer and a humidity gauge should be placed in the enclosure so that
you can easily monitor the environment. Most amphibians do best at temperatures between 60 to 70°F
(16 to 21°C), with humidity at 75 to 80%. However, tropical amphibians may require slightly higher
temperatures (75 to 80°F [24 to 27°C]) and humidity (85 to 90%). Your veterinarian or the store where
you purchased your amphibian should be able to tell you the appropriate range for your pet.
Feeding
Most amphibians are insect eaters but some will consume earthworms, small birds, and rodents.
Tadpoles and other aquatics species must feed on aquatic plant life such as algae to survive. In an
aquarium habitat, tadpoles can be fed tadpole powder pieced of boiled lettuce, floating fish flakes and
fry of fish. Tadpoles should not be overfed; this can cause clouding of the water and could suffocate
them.
As tadpoles change to adults, they can be fed insects such as crickets, mealworms, wax worms and
earthworms. These can be found at pet stores and bait shops. Other insects like flies, grasshoppers and
crickets can be caught with a net as long as they are not collected near areas where pesticides have
been used.
Salamanders prefer earthworms but will often eat crickets, wax worms and night crawlers.
Handling
When handling an amphibian, make sure it is absolutely necessary. Amphibians, have permeable skin,
are much more sensitive to touch than the scaly-skinned reptiles.
The skin affords little protection against desiccation (drying) or against heat. The amphibian's thin skin
absorbs oxygen from the atmosphere, but the skin can also absorb anything else that it comes into
contact with.
There is also the temperature differential to consider. Compared to the ambient temperature of a
salamander or frog, your hands are hot. The heat from your clean hands (and the stress of being
handled) can actually cause the death of a tiny frog or toad. But there are several ways to handle your
amphibian with a minimum of emotional and physical stress.
Use a Small Dip Net
One way is to use a small dip net, the rectangular kind sold as aquarium nets in pet stores. Dampen the
net, and shoo the animal into the net. Cover the opening with your other hand and turn the net so the
mouth is uppermost. You can then empty the net into a clean holding receptacle while you clean the
animal's cage. This technique also works if you shoo the animal into one of the larger, quart-sized deli
cups and replace the lid..
Use Moist Hands
Another way to handle your amphibian is to moisten your hands and scoop the animal up in your hands
and restrain him gently. If the animal is small enough, like a tiger salamander, you can hold it in your
hand by pinning one of the legs between your thumb and one of your fingers. Although it may seem
mean to "trap" an animal that way, the amphibian stays cool. Being grasped in your hot hand may not
be comfortable. If you're handling a larger amphibian, like a giant toad, you'll probably need both hands
to restrain the animal.
One thing you want to be careful of is the hazard of rubbing off the amphibian's protective coating of
mucous on the skin. This mucous provides anti-bacterial and anti-fungal protection to the amphibian,
and the animal needs to retain this protection.
Beware Amphibian Skin Toxicity
Another point to consider before you pick up an amphibian is his own skin toxicity. Some, like giant
toads, can exude a powerful toxin from their skin and parotid glands, those kidney-bean-shaped lumps
just behind and beneath the eyes. This toxin has been fatal to unwary dogs and cats that have grabbed
the toad in their mouth.
Reproduction
Male frogs and toads use distinctive calls to get females to breeding sites. Most amphibian species mate
in water, the male grasps the female from the back and, as she releases eggs, he fertilizes them. The
eggs then usually attach to vegetation in the water.
Eggs hatch into the larval form of tadpoles. The newly hatched tadpole lack legs, eyelids, and lungs they
have a long tail and a high fin. Tadpoles breathe through external gills and feed on vegetation. They
then go through a series of physical changes called metamorphosis. They begin by developing rear legs,
then front legs, eyelids, and jaws. The tail absorbs and the internal lungs develop. Tadpoles gradually
develop into the adult from over a period of a few weeks to 3 years depending upon the species.
Most salamanders and newts breed during the spring; they do not make noise but find each other by
smell. Breeding in most cases occurs in the water similar to the breeding process of frogs and toads.
However, in some cases, the male will deposit a spermatophore into the bottom of the pond and the
female will rub her cloaca over the area to pick up the sperm. In this case, fertilization occurs internally.
The larval forms that hatch look much like the adult but have busy external gills. The species that end
up living on land lose their external gills.
Activity/Application/Student Engagement/Laboratory
1) Diseases and Ailments of Amphibians-assign groups of 3-4 students one of the diseases listed below.
Have students research the disease including: symptoms, causes, treatment and if it could affect the
handler. After each group has finished, have the students create a foldable with 5 sections. Each group
should stand and present their findings and students should fill in the sections of their foldable with
information shared by peers.
2) Have students create a chart with three sections to depict the three orders of amphibians. Each
section should include pictures and traits specific to each order.
3) Frog, toad, or salamander dissection
FROG DISSECTION GUIDE
References/Additional Materials/Extended Learning Opportunities/Enrichment
Intro to Veterinary Science, Thompson
http://www.discoveryeducation.com
Merck Veterinary Manual
Cahn, C.M., Line, S. (Eds.), 2005. The Merck Veterinary Manual. John Wiley & Sons
Small Animal Management and Care. Third Edition. Warren, Dean M. 2010. Delmar, Cengage Learning.
Other Suggested Activities:
Using the amphibian species identification guide, show students several examples of amphibians.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/herps/amphibid/
College and Career Readiness Standards:
Science
I. B1. (a-g) Design and conduct scientific investigations in which hypotheses are formulated and
tested.
III. C 1 (a-c) Presentation of scientific/technical information.
V. D 1 (a-g) Understand that scientists categorize things according to similarities and differences.
VI. E 1 (a-f) Know ways in which living things can be classified based on each organism’s internal
and external structure, development, and relatedness of DNA sequences.