Amphibians Facts
- Amphibian means two-lives. They spend their lives in water and on land.
- Amphibians are cold-blooded, ectothermic animals. They also come under the class vertebrates (meaning they have backbone or spine).
- Amphibians breathe through skin and they go through metamorphosis.
- Amphibians begin their life in water with gills and tails. They develop lungs and legs as they grow for their land life.
- 60 million years ago amphibians were the dominant terrestrial animals on earth.
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant species are grouped together as the Urodela. Most salamanders have four toes on their front legs and five on their rear legs. Their moist skin usually makes them reliant on habitats in or near water, or under some protection (e.g., moist ground), often in a wetland. Some salamander species are fully aquatic throughout life, some take to the water intermittently, and some are entirely terrestrial as adults. Uniquely among vertebrates, they are capable of regenerating lost limbs, as well as other body parts.
