CLASS - AMPHIBIANS

ASST. PROF. KHANDAGALE T.T.

INTRODUCTION
 Amphibians are cold-blooded
(ectothermic) vertebrates that
represent a transitional
evolutionary stage between
aquatic and terrestrial life.

 They are the first vertebrates to

adapt to both water and land,
showing a dual mode of
existence—spending their early
life in water as larvae and later
 ANURA FROGS & TOADS
AMPHIBIA

URODELA SALAMANDER

APODA CAECILIANS
GENERAL CHARACTERS
 DUAL LIFE
 Amphibians exhibit a dual mode of existence,
spending their larval stage in water and
adulthood on land.
 Larvae (e.g., tadpoles) have gills for respiration,
while adults develop lungs for breathing air.
BODY STRUCTRE & LIMBS

 Their body is bilaterally

symmetrical and can be
divided into head, trunk,
and tail (except in Anura,
which lacks a tail).
 Four limbs (tetrapods)
are present, aiding in
locomotion; however,
Apoda (Caecilians) lack
limbs and are adapted for
burrowing.
 Digits (toes or fingers)
are without claws,
distinguishing them from
reptiles.
 SKIN
 The skin is & RESPIRATION
moist, glandular, and without scales,
helping in cutaneous respiration (gas exchange
through skin).
 Mucous glands keep the skin moist, preventing
dehydration and aiding in respiration.
 Poison glands (e.g., in toads) secrete toxic
substances for defense.
 Amphibians respire through gills (larvae), lungs
(adults), and skin. Some salamanders lack lungs
and depend entirely on skin respiration.
 blooded), meaning their body
temperature changes with the
environment.
 They are active in warm conditions
but hibernate during winter (winter
sleep) and aestivate during extreme
heat (summer sleep).

ECTOTHERMY
CIRCUL ATORY
 Amphibians SYSTEM
have a three-
chambered heart (two atria
and one ventricle).
 Their circulatory system is
double but incomplete,
meaning oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood mix
partially in the ventricle.
 The heart pumps both
oxygen-rich and oxygen-
poor blood, making their
system less efficient than that
 NERVOUS SYSTEM

 The brain is well-developed

with 10 pairs of cranial
nerves.
 Sense organs are adapted for
both aquatic and terrestrial
life:
 Eyes have movable eyelids and
a nictitating membrane
(third eyelid) for protection.
 Ears have a tympanic
membrane (external eardrum)
for detecting sound vibrations.
EXCRETORY SYSTEM

 Amphibians have mesonephric

kidneys for excretion.
 Excretory waste is mainly
ammonia (ammonotelic) in
aquatic species and urea
(ureotelic) in terrestrial species
to conserve water.
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

 Amphibians are mostly

oviparous (egg-laying),
with fertilization being
external in frogs/toads
and internal in
salamanders/caecilians.
 Eggs are laid in water and
lack shells, being jelly-
coated to prevent
desiccation.
 Development involves
metamorphosis,
Click icon to add picture
 jumping/swimming
movements due to their long
hind limbs.
 Salamanders move using
side-to-side body
movements and crawl on
land.
 Caecilians are limbless and
burrow underground using
a muscular body.

ADAPTIVE FEATURES
& LOCOMOTION
 Order Apoda /
Order Anura (Frogs & Order Urodela / Caudata
Feature Gymnophiona
Toads) (Salamanders & Newts)
(Caecilians)
Common Name Frogs and Toads Salamanders and Newts Caecilians
Elongated, slender body Long, limbless, worm-
Body Shape Short, compact, tailless
with a tail like
Well-developed, strong hind Four limbs (some species No limbs, body adapted
Limbs
limbs for jumping have reduced limbs) for burrowing
Tail Absent in adults Present throughout life Absent
Jumping (frogs), crawling
Locomotion Walking or swimming Burrowing
(toads)
Moist, smooth or warty Smooth, with ring-like
Skin Moist, sometimes slimy
(toads) folds
Lungs in adults, skin Lungs and skin respiration Skin respiration, some
Respiration
respiration (some retain gills) have vestigial lungs
Internal (via
Fertilization External (in water) Internal
spermatophore)
Laid in water or moist Laid in moist soil or
Egg Deposition Laid in water, jelly-covered
places retained in body
Metamorphosis: tadpole to Larvae resemble adults but Some species give birth
Development
adult have gills to live young
REPRESENTATIVE
ANIMALS
 ICHTHYOPHIS
 Ichthyophis is a limbless, burrowing amphibian that
resembles an earthworm or snake.
 It belongs to the order Apoda (Gymnophiona),
characterized by elongated, cylindrical bodies.
 The skin is smooth, segmented with ring-like folds
(annuli), aiding in movement.
 It has vestigial eyes covered with skin, making it
nearly blind but sensitive to vibrations.
 Respiration occurs through lungs and skin, though
some species show vestigial lung structures.
 Fertilization is internal, and some species exhibit
oviparous (egg-laying) or viviparous (live-bearing)
reproduction.
 Found in moist soil, under decaying leaves, or near
freshwater bodies, it is a secretive burrower.
 It primarily feeds on earthworms, insects, and small
invertebrates.
 S AL AMANDRA
 Salamandra is an elongated, tailed amphibian
belonging to the order Urodela (Caudata).
 It has moist, smooth, or slightly rough skin, often
with bright yellow and black coloration as a warning
to predators.
 The body is long and slender, with four well-
developed limbs used for walking and swimming.
 It breathes through lungs in adults, but larvae possess
external gills for aquatic respiration.
 Fertilization is internal, and most species are
ovoviviparous, giving birth to aquatic larvae.
 It is nocturnal and secretive, often found in moist
forests, near streams, or under logs.
 It secretes toxins from skin glands as a defense
mechanism against predators.
 Salamandra primarily feeds on insects, worms, and
small invertebrates.
 BUFO
 Bufo is a terrestrial amphibian belonging to the order
Anura, commonly known as toads.
 It has a stout, rough, and warty skin that helps in water
retention and protection.
 The body is short and broad, with well-developed hind
limbs adapted for walking and short hops rather than long
jumps.
 It has large, bulging eyes with horizontal pupils, aiding
in night vision.
 The parotoid glands behind the eyes secrete toxic
substances as a defense against predators.
 Respiration occurs through lungs in adults and gills in
the aquatic larval (tadpole) stage.
 Fertilization is external, and eggs are laid in long
gelatinous strings in freshwater.
 Bufo is nocturnal and insectivorous, feeding on insects,
worms, and small invertebrates.
 HYL A

 Hyla is a small, arboreal amphibian belonging to the

order Anura, commonly known as tree frogs.
 It has a slender body with long limbs, well adapted for
climbing and jumping.
 The skin is smooth and moist, often green or
camouflaged to blend with vegetation.
 It has large, round adhesive pads (suction cups) on
its toes, helping it cling to leaves and branches.
 Respiration occurs through lungs in adults and gills in
the larval stage (tadpoles).
 It is nocturnal, spending the day hidden in vegetation and
becoming active at night.
 It produces loud, high-pitched calls, especially during
the breeding season, to attract mates.
 Hyla lays eggs in water, where they develop into
tadpoles before metamorphosing into adults.
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