Welcome to our Amphibian Encyclopedia Page
Amphibians by Classification Category
Order Anura
Includes frogs and toads
Order Caudata
Includes salamanders and newts.
Order Gymnophiona (Caecilians)
Includes includes the caecilians.
Amphibians By Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Deserts
Very dry areas with little water and extreme temperatures.
Examples: Couch’s spadefoot toad, which spends most of its time underground and comes out after rain, and the desert rain frog, which has special skin to hold water.
Forests
Damp, shady areas with many plants and rotting leaves. Home to many different types of amphibians.
Examples: Red-eyed tree frog, spotted salamander, and many kinds of toads.
Grassland
Open areas with some rainfall and seasonal pools.
Examples: Great Plains toad, tiger salamander, which often use short-lived ponds for breeding.
Mountains
High areas with steep slopes and changing weather. Some amphibians live here, adapting to cooler temperatures and less water.
Examples: Mountain yellow-legged frog, alpine salamander.
Shrublands
Damp, shady areas with many plants and rotting leaves. Home to many different types of amphibians.
Examples: Red-eyed tree frog, spotted salamander, and many kinds of toads.
Tundra
Open areas with some rainfall and seasonal pools.
Examples: Great Plains toad, tiger salamander, which often use short-lived ponds for breeding.
Aquatic Ecosystems
Coral Reefs
Underwater structures made by tiny sea animals. Amphibians are not found in coral reef ecosystems. These environments are too salty for amphibians, which generally need freshwater for at least part of their life cycle.
Freshwater
Rivers, lakes, and ponds important for many amphibians’ lives.
Examples: African clawed frog, hellbender salamander (suited for fast rivers), two-toed amphiuma.
Marine
While not common for amphibians, some can live in salty water.
Example: Crab-eating frog, which can live in salty swamps where rivers meet the sea.
Semi-Aquatic Ecosystem
Coastal Areas
Where land meets the sea. Some amphibians live in freshwater pools near the coast or in areas with mixed fresh and salt water.
Examples: Crab-eating frog, marine toad (in coastal areas).
Mangroves
Coastal wetlands in warm areas, offering unique living spaces.
Examples: Mangrove frog, crab-eating frog, suited for mixed fresh and salt water.
Wetlands and Swamps
Key areas with both water and land features.
Examples: American bullfrog, different types of newts, mudpuppies.
Subterranean Ecosystems
Caves
Dark, damp places with steady temperatures.
Examples: Olm (a cave salamander with special features), various types of cave salamanders.
Underground
Soil and fallen leaf habitats.
Examples: Caecilians (shaped for digging), some salamanders like the California slender salamander.
Other Ecosystems
Arboreal Ecosystems
High in the trees of wet, warm forests, supporting tree-dwelling species.
Examples: Many types of tree frogs, some salamanders like the arboreal salamander, suited for life in trees.
Island Ecosystems
Land surrounded by water, often with unique species found nowhere else. Many islands have their own special amphibians. Examples: Coqui frogs in Puerto Rico, golden coqui (once thought extinct, found only on a few Hawaiian islands).
Polar Ecosystems
Very cold areas near the North and South Poles. No amphibians live in Antarctica, but a few specially adapted frogs live in the far north. Example: Wood frog (can survive freezing and lives in parts of Alaska).
Urban Ecosystems
Places where humans build cities and towns. Some amphibians adapt to live alongside people in parks, gardens, and ponds. Examples: Common frog, American green tree frog (often found in suburban areas).
Amphibians By Region
Alphabetically:
Africa
Home to a wide variety of amphibians, from colorful frogs to unusual caecilians.
Examples: African bullfrog, goliath frog (the largest frog in the world), African clawed frog, various reed frogs, and some caecilians.
Antarctica
No native amphibians due to the extreme cold. The southernmost amphibian, the Nybelin’s frog, is found in South America’s Tierra del Fuego, but not in Antarctica itself.
No Examples
Asia
Incredibly diverse, with many unique species.
Examples: Chinese giant salamander, various newts, tree frogs, and caecilians. The Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia are particularly rich in amphibian diversity.
Australia and Oceania
Known for unusual frogs, but no native salamanders or caecilians.
Examples: Corroboree frog, green and golden bell frog, cane toad (an invasive species), and various tree frogs including the Australian green tree frog.
Caribbean
Islands with high amphibian diversity, especially in tree frogs.
Examples: Coqui frog (emblem of Puerto Rico), Cuban tree frog, and various other tree frog species.
Europe
Home to a variety of frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.
Examples: Fire-bellied toad, great crested newt, common frog, and various salamander species including the fire salamander.
Middle East
Limited amphibian diversity due to arid conditions, but some species persist.
Examples: Green toad, Middle East tree frog, and some salamander species in more temperate areas.
North America
Rich amphibian fauna, especially in the eastern and northwestern regions.
Examples: Red-eyed tree frog, bull frog, spotted salamander, axolotl (native to Mexico), and various newt species.
South America
Extremely high amphibian diversity, particularly in the Amazon rainforest.
Examples: Poison dart frogs, glass frogs, Amazon horned frog, and various tree frogs and caecilians.
Classification
Class Amphibia
Key Characteristics of Amphibians:
- Moist, permeable skin: Amphibians have thin, moist skin that they can breathe through (cutaneous respiration).
- Ectothermic: They cannot regulate their own body temperature internally and rely on external sources of heat.
- Metamorphosis: Most amphibians undergo a dramatic change from an aquatic larval stage to a more terrestrial adult form.
- Dual lifestyle: Many species live part of their lives in water and part on land.
- Lack of scales: Unlike reptiles, most amphibians do not have scales (with some exceptions).
- Eggs without shells: Amphibians typically lay jelly-like eggs in water or very moist environments.
- Gills in larval stage: Most amphibian larvae (like tadpoles) have gills for breathing underwater.
- Lungs in adult stage: Most adult amphibians develop lungs, though some small salamanders rely entirely on skin breathing.
- Three-chambered heart: Unlike mammals and birds, amphibians have a heart with three chambers instead of four.
- Cold-blooded: Their body temperature changes with the surrounding environment.
- Ability to regenerate: Many amphibians can regrow lost limbs or other body parts.
- Sensitive to environmental changes: Their permeable skin makes them vulnerable to pollutants, often serving as indicator species for ecosystem health.
- Diverse vocalizations: Many species, especially frogs and toads, produce distinct calls for communication and mating.
- Smooth or rough skin: Depending on the species, skin can be smooth (like in many frogs) or rough and warty (like in many toads).
- Presence of poison glands: Some species have poison glands in their skin as a defense mechanism.
These features have helped amphibians live in many different places, from ponds and streams to damp forests around the world. Their special traits, especially being able to live both in water and on land, let them thrive in many different environments. Even though they can be easily hurt by changes in their surroundings, amphibians have shown they can adapt well. They play important roles in nature, both as animals that hunt and as food for other animals.
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