AMPHIBIANS

*Herpetology is the study of amphibians and reptiles,

Batrachology-subdisciline, study of amphibians alone
Classification:
1.Anura(žabotvaré) - frogs & toads
2.Urodela (mlokotvaré)- salamanders & newts
3. Apoda (červone)– caecilians- no limbs, in Africa

Amphibian means – double life. Larvae start life in water with gills, adults are terrestrial with lungs

Muscular-Skeletal system An amphibian has an endoskeleton with a backbone. Compared to fish, they have much
stronger bones and have sternum (breastbone) and ribs to protect internal organs. They are tetrapods; they have four limbs
.that are attached at the shoulders and hips. With the frog and toad, the front legs are shorter and weaker and the rear legs
much stronger for leaping (jumping).

Urostyle (tyčinkovitá kosť)- a long bone formed from fused vertebrae at the base of the spine in frogs and toads.

Circulatory system: They have 3 chambered heart (2 atria + 2 ventricle)

Amphibians are ectothermic - they use their environment to warm and cool their bodies. If they are cold, they must stay
in the sun to raise their body temperature. If they get too hot, they must find shade to cool off. Many amphibians are
active at night , so they can avoid becoming too hot and having their skin dry out.
Hibernation : The main way amphibians deal with winter's cold temperatures is to hibernate, or to go dormant
Estivation : Hot, dry weather also can be stressful for amphibians, and often during such times they may go dormant.

Respiratory system:
larva = breathe through their skin and gills , adult = through lungs and some through skin
Amphibians have thin skin which is permeable, moist Their skin lets water pass into their bodies easily. Many
amphibians don’t need to drink water.
Their thin skin also allows them to absorb oxygen. This is helpful for the animal because they have small lungs.
Excretory system: kidneys filter liquid waste = urine.
Kidneys > ureters > small urinary bladder > cloaca.

Digestive system: larvae = herbivore, adults = mostly carnivore.

Digestive tract = mouth > pharynx>esophagus > stomach > small intestines > large intestine (colon) > cloaca.

Sensory system: 1. Eyes have eyelids and a transparent membrane that covers the eye when the frog is in the water
2. They have eardrums (middle ear), inner ear, but they lack outside ear.
3. Lateral Line systems = detect water movement (vibrations)
4. frog uses its two nostrils to sample odours in the air. It also has a 2nd type of olfactory organ between the nostrils, called
the Jacobson’s organ. It is used to detect chemicals in the water.

Reproduction: Amphibians return to the water to reproduce. They lay eggs into the water for external fertilization.
Generally, amphibian eggs are protected by a coat of jelly but not by a shell.
The young hatch into aquatic larvae with gills called tadpole
The aquatic larvae usually undergo metamorphosis to develop into a terrestrial adult.
Frog metamorphosis: The bag legs develop first.
Salamander metamorphosis: The front legs develop first.

Frogs or toads? :

 Need to live near water - do not need to live near water to survive
 have rough, bumpy skin - have smooth, moist skin that makes them look “slimy”.
 take long jumps - Will run or take small hops rather than jump
 Have a wider body - Have a narrow body
 have longer hind legs - Have shorter, less powerful hind legs
 Have many predators - do not have many predators as their skin lets out a bitter taste and smell that burns the
eyes and nostrils of its predators.

Newts and salamanders:

- have a long, slender body, a long tail, and usually two pairs of limbs.
They inhabit cool, shady habitats and are most active during the night.
Newts and salamanders are silent amphibians; they do not croak or
make loud sounds like frogs and toads. Many species of newts and
salamanders have poison glands in their skin which helps to protect
them against predators.
Salamanders practice internal fertilization; the males produce a
spermatophore that females pick up with the cloaca (the common
chamber for the intestinal, reproductive and urinary canals).