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Amphibia-Characters & Classification

Amphibians are the first vertebrates that successfully adapted to live both on land and in water. They play an important role in maintaining ecological balance. There are three main orders of amphibians - Anura, Urodela, and Apoda. Anura are tailless hopping frogs that make up 75% of amphibians. Urodela have tails as adults and resemble lizards, making up 20% of amphibians. Apoda are limbless amphibians that look like worms and comprise 5% of amphibians.

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93 views3 pages

Amphibia-Characters & Classification

Amphibians are the first vertebrates that successfully adapted to live both on land and in water. They play an important role in maintaining ecological balance. There are three main orders of amphibians - Anura, Urodela, and Apoda. Anura are tailless hopping frogs that make up 75% of amphibians. Urodela have tails as adults and resemble lizards, making up 20% of amphibians. Apoda are limbless amphibians that look like worms and comprise 5% of amphibians.

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Khadeeja Ilham
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Class: Amphibia

Introduction - Earth, the only planet supports and still continues to support a vast variety of
biodiversity ranging from microscopic to macroscopic multicellular angiosperms and
mammals. These species interact continuously for the flow of energy along the food chain in
any given ecosystem. The disappearance of a single species may bring about a shift in the
food chain and may also result in an adverse ecological imbalance. One such group of
animals that has stood the test of time and has endured the impact of human activity and
playing a major role in maintaining the ecological balance are the Amphibians.

Amphibians are so called as they can survive both on land and in water i.e., they lead a dual
life. They are distributed all over the world.

Let us now enter into the private domain of these shy creatures and unfold the qualities or
characters that made them the first vertebrates to successfully step on the land.

General characters and classification of living orders with suitable examples:

1. Amphibians are poikilothermic, first land vertebrates adapted to live both on land and
in water.
2. Body – adult body is differentiated into head and trunk, in some it is differentiated as
head, trunk and tail. Neck is absent.
3. Exoskeleton- is absent. Skin is the outermost layer. It is generally smooth, moist,
slimy and glandular. The skin has poison glands and mucus glands that secrets a
toxic coating which primarily prevents the invasion of microorganisms like fungi and
bacteria; secondly they defend their enemies. The skin also has pigmented cells or
chromatophores that imparts bright colours. In some the skin has concealed dermal
scales.
4. Endoskeleton- is formed of bones and cartilages. Skull in bi-condylar.
5. Locomotion- by two pairs of limbs. A pair of forelimbs with 4 digits and a pair of
hind limbs with 5 digits.
6. Digestive system- well developed with alimentary canal and associated glands like
liver and pancreas. Tongue is well developed and protrusible in some. The
alimentary canal opens into the cloaca. Teeth are homodont.
7. Respiratory system- occurs by gills referred as branchial respiration, lungs referred
as pulmonary respiration and skin known as cutaneous respiration. The membrane
lining the buccal cavity also takes part in respiration hence called buccal respiration.
Larvae respire by gills.
8. Excretory system- by well-developed kidneys (mesonephric), larvae excrete
ammonia hence ammonotelic while adults are ureotelic. Excretory ducts open into
the cloaca.
9. Circulatory system- circulatory system is well developed consisting of heart and
blood vessels. Heart is 3 chambered with 2 atria and 1 ventricle. Sinus venosus, an
additional chamber is also present. Heart receives both oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood. Red blood cells are oval, biconvex and nucleated.

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10. Nervous system- well developed with a brain and spinal cord. 10 pairs of cranial
nerves are present. Sense organs are well developed. Presence of external ear drum
called tympanum is a characteristic feature of amphibians. Jacobson’s organ is
present to detect smell.
11. Reproductive system- is well developed. Sexes are separate. Sexual dimorphism is
less profound. Males are with or without copulatory structures. Females are
oviparous and fertilization is mostly external and in some internal. Development is
indirect involving larval stages and metamorphosis. Extra embryonic membranes are
absent. Some show parental care.

The class amphibia has about 300 species inhabiting the world. They are classified into 3
orders namely, Anura, Urodela and Apoda.

Order: Anura (salienta)

1. They are tailless hopping amphibians.


2. Tail absent in adults.
3. Skin is smooth, moist, slimy, scaleless and loosely attached to the body
4. Limbs are usually unequal.
5. Males are devoid of copulatory structures.
6. Fertilization external.
7. They form 75% of total amphibians.

Ex: Rana hexadactyla, Bufo bufo, Hyla, Rhacophorus, Pipa, Gastrotheca, Alytes

Order: Urodela

1. Tail present in adults.


2. Skin is smooth, moist, glandular and scaleless.
3. They slightly resemble the lizards.
4. Limbs are almost equal but weak.
5. Gills present permanently in some.
6. Males have copulatory organ.
7. They form 20% of amphibian population.

Ex: Newts, Salamanders, Necturus.

Order: Apoda (caecilians- limbless amphibians; gymnophiona- naked, serpent like)

1. They are characterised by the absence of limbs.


2. Tail absent or vestigial.
3. Have a worm like appearance.
4. Skin is smooth, moist, glandular, transversely wrinkled and has concealed dermal
scales.
5. Males have copulatory structures.

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6. Females lay eggs and show parental care.
7. They form 5% of total amphibian population.

Ex: Ichthyophis, Uraeotyphlus.

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