Amphibians:
- Are vertebrates (they have a backbone)
- They are ectothermic (cold blooded and cannot control their body temperature)
- Do not have fur, scales or feathers
- Are carnivores and many are even cannibals!
- Many have many mucus glands all over their body (this gives them a slimy feel when you touch them)
The mucus glands that give an amphibian their slimy skin, might feel weird, but it’s very important as it allows them to:
- Absorb water through their skin to stay hydrated (amphibians don’t usually drink water the way you do)
- Breath through their skin
When amphibians are born, they hatch from eggs, have gills, no limbs and a tail to help them swim, but as they grow they experience a metamorphosis which means they go through many changes as they enter adulthood that might include
- Growing limbs
- Growing lungs
- Their tail shrinking
Amphibians are divided into three groups
- Anura (Frogs and Toads) Frogs make up 90% of the amphibian population!
- Urodela (Salamanders and Newts, which while they superficially resemble lizards, are not)
- Apoda (Caecilians which resembles a snake and live underground)
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