Amphibians!
By Averi, Erica, Ashley,and Azlyn
General Characteristics
• Habitat- Diverse-found in deserts, swamps,
lowland tropical rainforests, above tree line in
high mountain areas.
• # of species- about 4,200 (changes all the
time)
• Every amphibian has a larvae stage
• Body plan-Bilateral Symmetry
• They are cold-blooded
Groups of Amphibians
• Urodela – Salamanders and newts
• Anura – Frogs and toads
• Apoda – Caecilians ( long and worm-like)
Digestive System
• Main organs: esophagus, stomach, and
small intestine
• Bile: digestive juice made by the liver
• Most digestion takes place in small
intestine
• Food is absorbed into bloodstream
• All amphibians have teeth except for toads
Respiratory System
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Main organs: larynx, lungs, gills, and skin
Larynx leads from nostrils to lungs
Lungs are filled with capillaries
Skin absorbs extra oxygen
Circulatory System
• Main organs: heart and blood vessels
• Heart has two atria and one ventricle
• Heart has one atria and ventricle when
larvae
• Circulatory system carries blood
throughout the body
Excretory System
• Main organs: kidneys, bladder, cloaca,
large intestine
• Kidneys produce urine which is held in the
bladder, and then expelled through the
cloaca
• Indigested items go through the large
intestine, and then pass through the
cloaca
Response/Nervous System
• Nervous system main organs: brain and
spinal cord
• Brain is enclosed in the skull
• Spinal cord is protected by the backbone
• Messages are sent from the brain to the
body through nerves branching from the
spinal cord
Skeletal/Muscular System
The muscular system provides movement
and protection for organs
Muscles are attached to the bones by
tendons
Muscle cells can expand and contract in a
frog
Muscles work in antagonistic pairs
www.livingunderworld.org
Reproductive System
• Main organs: testes, ovaries, oviducts,
sperm ducts, uteri, and cloaca
• Ovaries (in females) produce eggs
• Testes (in males) produce sperm
• The eggs are fertilized externally
• From 19 to 30,000 eggs are laid by one
female per breeding season
Urodela (Salamanders,
Newts)
• Around 10 families of Salamanders and
Newts
• Many species are found in Appalachian
Mountains
Anura (Frogs, Toads)
• 22 to 24 families of Frogs and toads
• Includes leopard and grass frogs (most
commonly known)
• Many found in Eastern U.S., but they live
pretty much everywhere
except polar regions
• All toads are actually frogs
That are differently adapted
Apoda (Caecilians)
• Little known
• Not found in the U.S.
• Limbless, mostly tailless, elongated, tropical
amphibians who burrow or swim
• Wormlike, with slimy skin
• Some have scales
• Small or hidden eyes
Importance of
Amphibians
• To Ecosystem – Pest control, food for
other animals
• To humans – Food, genetic research
• They are “nature’s indicator”
Bibliography
•“Amphibians: Caecilian.” San Diego Zoo. 1 Jan., 2008. Zoo Society of San Diego Zoo. 27 Apr., 2008.
<http://www.sandiegozoo.org.>
•"Amphibians: Frogs." Amphibians. 1 Jan., 2002. Webspawner. 27 Apr 2008 <http://www.webspawner.com>.
•Dorota.”Weird Frog Facts.” All About Frogs.20 Apr. 2006. Frog Land. 27 Apr., 2008 <http://allaboutfrogs.org/>
•"Muscular system." Marymount School. 1 Jan., 2002. Marymount School. 27 Apr 2008
<http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us>.
•"Natural History." Amphibian Habitat. 1 Jan., 2008. Britannica. 27 Apr 2008
<http://www.britannica.com>.
•Savalli, Udo M.. "Vertabrate Diversity." Vertebrate Zoology. 23 Sept., 2007. ASU West. 27 Apr 2008
<http://www.savalli.us>.
•"Tennessee Amphibian Monitoring Program." Tennessee.gov. 1 Jan., 2002. Tennessee Wildlife
Agency. 27 Apr 2008 <http://state.tn.us>.
•"The Amphibians." Mr. Hamley Science. 1 Jan. 2005. San Luis Obispo High School. 27 Apr 2008
<http://slohs.slcusd.org>.
Resources