What are the amphibians ?

Amphi means Both . Animals who can live in water as well as on land . Amphibians includes Frogs , Toad , Salamanders , Newts , Ceacilians. But not Crocodiles and tortoise . They are reptiles . Amphibians are characterized by ,
1) They dont have any scales / hairs on their body.
2) Often their larva live in water and adult on land.
3) Their eggs dont have any shell.
4) Often they can Breath by their skin.
These animals' ancestors were the first to venture out from the water and adapt to life on land. Amphibian larvea are often aquatic and go through a complex metamorphosis process as they grow to adulthood.
Many amphibians can absorb oxygen directly into their bloodstream through their skin and are also able to expell carbon dioxide waste back into the air. The skin of amphibians lacks scales and hair. It is smooth and sometimes moist, making it quite permeable to gases and water. This permeability is thought to make amphibians particularly vulnerable to toxins in air and water such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants. Amphibians have been sharp decline throughout many areas worldwide. This is thought to be an early warning sign of a troubled environment.

Posted on November 7, 2012 03:24 PM by ninad