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Amphibian Notes

Amphibians, studied under herpetology, are a diverse group of over 4000 species that evolved from aquatic larvae with gills to terrestrial adults with lungs. They exhibit various adaptations for land life, including stronger bones and a double-loop circulatory system, and undergo metamorphosis from herbivorous tadpoles to carnivorous adults. However, amphibian populations are declining due to environmental threats such as habitat loss and disease.

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13 views3 pages

Amphibian Notes

Amphibians, studied under herpetology, are a diverse group of over 4000 species that evolved from aquatic larvae with gills to terrestrial adults with lungs. They exhibit various adaptations for land life, including stronger bones and a double-loop circulatory system, and undergo metamorphosis from herbivorous tadpoles to carnivorous adults. However, amphibian populations are declining due to environmental threats such as habitat loss and disease.

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Arman Serrano
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Chapter 30 Notes - Amphibians

*Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians

What is an amphibian?
- 4000+ species
- Gave rise to modern land vertebrates
- Amphibian means -double life-
- Larvae start life in H2O with gills , adults are terrestrial with lungs

Evolutionary adaptations for life on land:


1. stronger bones
2. lungs and breathing tubes
3. sternum (breastbone) and ribs to protect internal organs

History:
Carboniferous Period = Age of Amphibians, 360-290 million years ago
Climate changes caused habitats to disappear
3 orders of amphibians survive today
1. Frogs and Toads
2. Salamanders
3. Caecilians

Form and Function in Amphibians

Feeding: larvae = herbivore, adults = mostly carnivore

Digestive tract: mouth → esophagus → stomach → small intestines → large intestine → cloaca

Respiration: larva = skin and gills, adult = lungs and some through skin. Many terrestrial
salamanders have no lungs at all, respire through skin and mouth cavity

Circulation: double loop system


3 chamber heart right atrium, left atrium, and ventricle
Compare Single to Double Loop Circulation

Single: Heart --> Gills --> Body (fish and amphibian larvae)

Double: Heart --> Lungs --> Heart --> Body (adult amphibians)

Excretion: kidneys filter liquid waste = urine


Kidneys > ureters > small urinary bladder > cloaca

Reproduction: females lay eggs in water, male deposits sperm over


eggs

Tadpoles Frogs
Herbivorous Carnivorous
Aquatic Terrestrial or Aquatic
Single Loop Double Loop
Gills Lungs

Yolk of egg nourishes developing embryo

Larvae commonly called tadpoles

A few species will care for their eggs by incubating their young in
their mouth, on their back, or stomach!

Change from larvae to adult is called metamorphosis


Response: well developed nervous and sensory system

1. Eyes move in socket and have a protective structure = nictitating membrane is a transparent
membrane that covers the eye when the frog is in the water
2. Tympanic membrane = eardrums
3. Lateral Line systems = detect water movement (vibrations)

Groups of amphibians

Kingdom Animalia
....Phylum Chordata
.........Subphylum Vertebrata
..............Class Amphibia

Order Urodela (Salamanders and Newts)


long bodies and tails, lives in moist woods

Mud puppy keeps gills and lives in water all


their lives

Order Anura (Frogs and Toads) hop/jump with legs, adult has no tail

Order Apoda (Caecilians) legless with fishlike scales

Ecology: The number of living species is declining; environmental threats such as decreasing
habitats, fungal infections, introduced predators, increasing human population

You'll learn more about the anatomy of frogs when we do the frog dissection!

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