Class Amphibia

Living double life

• Connecting link between fish and amphibian
• Lung fish

Of the living vertebrates, amphibians were the first to
adapt to extended periods of time on land.

Most still need fresh water at some point in life cycle.

These multiple habitat requirements are reflected in
the complex life cycle of most (but not all) species.
Evolution

Have no nails or claws

Minimal number of teetth

Most have a tongue that is projectile and sticky

Spends first stages of life in water as tadpoles

They go through drastic changes during development
(caused by changes in hormones)

Tadpoles are herbivorous while adults are carnivorous

They are ectotherms

During extreme environmental conditions they either
hibernate (winter) or aestivate (summer).

Smooth, moist skin

Mucous glands (prevent desiccation / slippery /
disease-free)

Poison glands:
- Produce diverse array
of chemicals
The Complex Life Cycle

Anura (without tail)

caudata Urodels (with tail)

Gymnophiona (without legs)
• Habitat: North America
• Possess tail
• Both pair of legs are present in them
• Lack middle ear
• 350 species
• Salamander, newts
• moist forest floor
• larva Aquatic
• Families:
• 1. Plethodontidae
• 2. Salamandridae
1. Plethodontidae
•Fully terrestrial
•lay eggs on land
•Young ones are similar to adult
•Longer tail, developd toes
2. Salamandridae
•Mostly found in water
•Retain caudal fin
•Newts
• Length: 1.5 cm
• Largest north american salemender hellbender (Crypcobranchus
alleganiensis), 65 cm
• Internal fertilization
• Male produce gelatenious spermatophore
• Deposite on substrate
• Larva xtrnal gills
• Spermatheca: store sperm in special pouch
• Egg fertilization internal
• Incomplete metaorposiss

Legless

Burrowing or aquatic

sagmented

Tropical

Internal fertilization

Oviparous & viviparous species

cecelians

13
• Feed on worms
• Tailles
• Pair of legs
• Lack middle ear
• 3500 pecies

Pigment cells (colour)

Cutaneous – Gas exchange occurs across moist skin

Pulmonary – Gas exchange occurs in paired lungs (too
small for all gas exchange)

Gills – Larval forms and neotenics (neoteny = adults that
retain juvenile characteristics)

Tadpoles are herbivorous while
adults are carnivorous

Heart: 2 atriums and 1 ventricle

Well developed brain attached to the dorsal nerve cord.

They contain a well developed muscular system.

Sensory receptors located all over the skin

Good vision since these animals are mainly vision
feeders; that is, they have to use their sight to find and
capture food.
Excretion
Reproduction

External fertilization in moist environments.

Exceptions to the external fertilization are salamanders
(only about 10% are external).

Jelly-like eggs need to be laid in water.

Their offspring develop through a process called
metamorphosis.

Sound production is primarily a reproductive function of
male anurans.

These calls attract females to breeding areas and to
announce to other males that a given territory is occupied.

These calls may also cause some hormonal changes
internally to occur.

Sounds are caused by air being forced from the lungs over
the vocal cords and cartilages of the larynx, causing them
to vibrate.
Anura

No tail

External fertilization

Indirect development
in most
Urodela

Have a tail

Divergence in respiratory mechanisms

Internal fertilization

Ambystoma mexicanum

(Axolotl)

32
33
Gymnophiona