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    About Amphibians

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    christianne

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    About Amphibians

    Uploaded by

    christianne
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    2 views2 pages

    About Amphibians

    Uploaded by

    christianne

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    About Amphibians

    Amphibians are small vertebrates that need water, or a moist environment, to


    survive.

    The species in this group include frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. All can
    breathe and absorb water through their very thin skin.

    Amphibians also have special skin glands that produce useful proteins. Some
    transport water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide either into or out of the animal.
    Others fight bacteria or fungal infections. And at least one—in each species—is
    used for defense.

    To warn potential predators, the most toxic amphibians are also the most
    brightly colored. Curare [kyoo-RAW-ree], for example, is found on the skin of
    colorful poison dart frogs. Another special feature of most amphibians is their
    egg-larva-adult life cycle. The larvae are aquatic and free-swimming—frogs and
    toads at this stage are called tadpoles. At a certain size, the young develop
    limbs and lungs. Some also lose their tails. Eventually, they hop or climb out of
    the water as adults, and spend the rest of their lives on land. This process is
    known as metamorphosis.

    Like reptiles, amphibians are cold-blooded. Because of their special skin, they
    require very specific living conditions. Too much sun can damage their cells. Too
    much wind can dry their skin and dehydrate the animal. As a result, amphibians
    are the first to die off when their habitats are disturbed or contaminated with
    chemicals like weed killers. This is the main reason over half of all frog species
    are in danger of extinction.
    FROM THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOOK, ANIMAL
    ENCYCLOPEDIA, 2012

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