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Amphibians: Different Types, Definition, Photos, and More

There are about 4,000 kinds of amphibians, including anurans, anurans, and anurans. Characteristics: 1. Need to spend its childhood in water. 2. It has a bone structure adapted to living on land, has limbs, moist skin, and many glands. 3. The body has no scales or body hair. 4. The tongue is bifurcated, inverted, and can extend outward. 5. Mating and fertilization occur in water. 6. Larvae breathe through gills, while adults breathe through skin, oral lining and lungs.


Amphibia is a type of vertebrate that can live both in water and on land, and is an important transitional group in the evolution from aquatic animals to terrestrial animals. Their life cycle usually includes two stages: aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults, so they are called "amphibians".

  • Scientific name: Amphibia

  • Main features:

    1. Moist skin: The skin is exposed and moist, which helps breathing.

    2. Amphibious: The larvae are mostly aquatic and breathe with gills; the adults are mostly terrestrial and breathe with lungs and skin.

    3. Oviparous: Most of them lay eggs in water, and the larvae develop in water.

    4. Poikilotherms: Body temperature changes with the environment.

    5. Inner ear and vocal organs: Amphibians can usually hear sounds, especially frogs can make sounds.

  • Ecological role:

    • Pest control: Prey on small invertebrates such as mosquitoes.

    • Important link in the food chain: Both predator and prey.

  • Evolutionary history:

    • Originated in the Devonian period about 350 million years ago, it is the earliest vertebrate adapted to terrestrial life.

    • Amphibians are the ancestors of reptiles and are also important links between aquatic and terrestrial environments.


Classification table of amphibians

Amphibians are mainly divided into three orders: Anura (frogs), Caudata (salamanders), and Apoda (caecilians).

Classification levelOrderFamilyGenusExamples
AnuraAnura (Anura)Ranidae (Ranidae)Rana (Rana)Frog, Rana


BufonidaeBufoAmerican toad, common toad


HylidaeHylaAmerican green tree frog, red-eyed tree frog


DendrobatidaePoison dart frog (Dendrobates)Blue poison dart frog, golden poison dart frog
CaudataCaudataSalamandridaeSalamandraFire salamander, eastern salamander


CryptobranchidaeAndriasChinese giant salamander (baby fish), Japanese giant salamander


PlethodontidaePlethodonRed-backed salamander
GymnophionaCaeciliidaeCaeciliaCaeciliacaecilian


water caeciliansFamily (Typhlonectidae)Genus (Typhlonectes)Water caecilians

Main characteristics and adaptations of amphibians

1. Body structure

  • Moist skin: The skin helps with water balance and gas exchange.

  • Differentiated limbs: Most amphibians have four limbs, which are suitable for swimming and jumping.

  • Evolution of the tail: Anura adults have no tail, Caudata adults retain their tail, and Apoda adults are worm-like.

2. Breathing method

  • Gill breathing: Larvae absorb oxygen through gills.

  • Lung and skin breathing: Adults mainly rely on lungs and skin for breathing.

3. Reproduction and development

  • Egg laying in water: eggs are mostly colloid and absorb water easily.

  • Metamorphosis: larvae undergo metamorphosis (such as tadpoles turning into frogs).

4. Environmental adaptation

Most amphibians live in humid environments, but a few species are adapted to dry areas or completely aquatic environments.


Evolutionary History of Amphibians

  1. Early Amphibians:

    • Amphibians originated in the Devonian period, and the earliest fossil records show that they evolved from lobe-finned fish.

    • With strong flippers and lungs, these early amphibians entered land life for the first time.

  2. Development and Diversification:

    • During the Carboniferous and Permian periods, amphibians rapidly diversified and occupied a variety of ecological niches.

    • The emergence of reptiles gradually replaced the dominance of amphibians.

  3. Modern amphibians:

    • Existing amphibians are descendants of ancient amphibian groups, including Anura, Caudata and Apoda.


Ecological Roles of Amphibians

  1. Pest Control:

    • Prey on insects and small invertebrates, controlling pest populations.

  2. Key Link in the Food Chain:

    • Provide food for birds, mammals and snakes.

  3. Ecological Health Indicators:

    • Highly sensitive to habitat changes and environmental pollution, it is an important indicator species of ecosystem health.

Amphibians are one of the oldest and most important vertebrates on Earth. Whether it is beautiful frogs, rare giant salamanders, or mysterious caecilians, they all show the diversity of life.

Urodela Anura Apoda
poisondartfrog

poisondartfrog

poisondartfrog,poison dart frog, poison dart frog, poison javelin frog

Anura LC

Features:It is the most beautiful frog in the world, but also one of the most poisonous species.

The scientific name of the poison dart frog is poisondartfrog. It is the most beautiful frog in the world and also one of the most poisonous species.Generally speaking, poison dart frogs feed on insects such as fruit flies, crickets, ants, and spiders.Poison dart frogs have special parenting behavio...

Rana luteiventris

Rana luteiventris

Rana luteiventris ,Columbia spotted frog

Anura LC

Features:Green to brown in color with spots on the back

Columbia spotted frog is a species of North American frog.Columbia spotted frog is also known for some of its physical features. It has a long, narrow, upturned eye. Considered a highly aquatic amphibian, the webbed feet extend all the way to the end of its longest toe. When compared to other frogs...

Poison-Dart Frog

Poison-Dart Frog

Poison-Dart Frog

Anura LC

Features:The most beautiful frog in the world, considered the most poisonous vertebrate

The Latin name of the golden poison dart frog is Poison-Dart Frog. The English name of this frog comes from the blow darts of the Ambila people in Colombia. The Ambila people often add venom before hunting with darts. It is the strongest poison dart frog.After a series of complex studies, people fou...

Ichthyophis bannanicus

Ichthyophis bannanicus

Ichthyophis bannanicus,Banna fish newt, taro snake, two-headed snake

Urodela LC

Features:The Xishuangbanna fish salamander is an ancient creature that has lived on Earth for at least hundreds of millions of years.

The Latin name of the Bannan ichthyophis is Ichthyophis bannanicus. It is a legless amphibian of the family Ichthyophidae and the genus Ichthyophis, with no subspecies.It was unclear whether there were ichthyophis in China for quite some time. In 1922, Mell, R. first reported that Ichthyophis glutin...

Paramesotriton caudopunctatus

Paramesotriton caudopunctatus

Paramesotriton caudopunctatus,Spot-tailed Warty Newt

Urodela LC

Features:The whole body is covered with small moles, the head, trunk and backs of the limbs are khaki, and the rest of the body is olive green.

The tailed newt is a tailed amphibian belonging to the Salamandridae family and the genus Salamander. It lives in backwaters, small streams and large rivers at an altitude of 800 to 1,800 meters. It is sometimes also found in quiet waters beside streams. The tailed newt, which is produced in Yuelian...

Echinotriton andersoni

Echinotriton andersoni

Echinotriton andersoni,Anderson’s Salamander

Urodela LC

Features:The head is large and flat, almost diamond-shaped, with a flat trunk and a tail shorter than the head and body.

Ryukyu Acanthus is an amphibian of the family Salamandridae and the genus Acanthus. It lives in mountain forests at an altitude of 100 to 200 meters, and is concentrated near cultivated areas. It usually lives under rocks in the shade and wet areas of mountain forests. In the non-breeding season, ad...

Echinotriton chinhaiensis

Echinotriton chinhaiensis

Echinotriton chinhaiensis,Zhenhai warty newt

Urodela LC

Features:The back and sides of the body are black with a waxy sheen, the abdomen is vermilion with irregular black spots, the head is large, and the limbs are slender.

Zhenhai Acanthus is an amphibian of the genus Acanthus of the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to China and has no subspecies. It lives in hilly areas at an altitude of 100-200 meters and lives by streams all year round. The environment where it lives is densely vegetated, with many permanent pon...

Yaotriton dabienicus

Yaotriton dabienicus

Yaotriton dabienicus

Urodela LC

Features:

Dabie Yaozhi is an amphibian of the family Salamandridae and genus Yaozhi. It lives in mountainous areas with a moist environment, abundant water resources and lush vegetation at an altitude of 698-767m. Adults are mainly terrestrial, and lay eggs on land near ponds in April and May. The eggs are si...

Yaotriton broadoridgus

Yaotriton broadoridgus

Yaotriton broadoridgus

Urodela LC

Features:

The broad-spine newt is an amphibian of the family Salamandridae and the genus Salamandridae. It lives in mountainous areas with lush forests at an altitude of 1000-1600m. Adult borers are mainly terrestrial. They reproduce in early May and lay eggs under dead leaves beside still ponds. Generally, m...

Yaotriton asperrinus

Yaotriton asperrinus

Yaotriton asperrinus

Urodela LC

Features:The dorsal surface of the body and tail is dark brown, with only the fingers, toes, anus and lower edge of the tail being orange-red; the ventral surface of the body is dark gray.

The fine-spotted newt is an amphibian of the family Salamandridae and genus Salamandridae. It lives in and around the mountains at an altitude of 1320-1400m. Adult newts live on land. During the non-breeding season, they live in moist rotten leaves near still ponds or in earthen holes under tree roo...

Yaotriton anhuiensis

Yaotriton anhuiensis

Yaotriton anhuiensis

Urodela LC

Features:

Anhui Yaozhi is an amphibian of the family Salamandridae and genus Yaozhi. It lives in subtropical mountain forests at an altitude of 1000–1200m, and is often seen in bamboo forests or under dry branches and leaves. Adults live more on land during the non-breeding season, and are often seen in smal...

Tylototriton yangi

Tylototriton yangi

Tylototriton yangi

Urodela LC

Features:The body color is bright orange-red, the head and other parts are black or brown-black, and there are orange-yellow-red markings on the chest and back of the abdomen.

The Yunnan warty newt is an amphibian of the family Salamandridae and genus Warty Newt. It lives in densely vegetated hilly areas at an altitude of about 1,200m, and its habitat is mostly near farmland. Adult newts hide in mud holes under still water pits or earth walls and bushes during the day; th...

Tylototriton verrucosus

Tylototriton verrucosus

Tylototriton verrucosus,Himalayan salamander

Urodela LC

Features:The head is approximately triangular and the entire body is uniform brown-black.

The brown-black warty newt is an amphibian of the family Salamandridae and genus Warty Newt. It is similar to the red warty newt, but the back of the body and tail of this species is uniformly brown-black, or only the head, side scrotum, tail, and limbs are more or less dark orange-red or dark orang...

Tylototriton verrucoosus Anderson

Tylototriton verrucoosus Anderson

Tylototriton verrucoosus Anderson, fine warty newt, golden unicorn newt, red gecko, water gecko, baby snake

Urodela LC

Features:The spine is significantly raised, and there is a row of 14 to 16 spherical scrofula on each side of the body. The body color is brown-red or brown-yellow.

Red warty newt is a tailed amphibian of the family Salamandridae and the genus Warty Newt. It lives in mountainous areas with lush forests, overgrown weeds and near rice fields at an altitude of 1,000 to 2,400 meters. Adult newts live on land. In the non-breeding season, they often live under grass...

Tylototriton broadoridgus

Tylototriton broadoridgus

Tylototriton broadoridgus

Urodela LC

Features:The body is stout, with a brown or dark red base color, and the warts on the sides of the body and the limbs are bright yellow or orange.

The beautiful newt is a tailed amphibian of the Salamandridae family and the genus Salamandridae. It lives in the rainforests in the valleys between mountains at an altitude of 1450-1550m. The vegetation in the ecological environment is dense, and the adult newts hide in the still water pits (ponds)...

Tylototriton pseudoverrucosus

Tylototriton pseudoverrucosus

Tylototriton pseudoverrucosus

Urodela LC

Features:The body is slender, with large scrofula on the sides of the body, and the ventral surface of the head, body and limbs is brown-red or brown-black or has brown-black or brown-red markings on it.

The southern Sichuan newt is a tailed amphibian of the Salamandridae family and the genus Salamandridae. It lives in mountainous areas at an altitude of 2300-2800m and inhabits secondary forest belts. Adult newts often move in still water areas and wetlands, preying on small aquatic insects and moll...

Tylototriton kweichowensis

Tylototriton kweichowensis

Tylototriton kweichowensis,Miaopo snake, Tuha scale, painted stone

Urodela LC

Features:The body shape and body color are similar to those of the fine-spotted newt, but the dorsal ridge and the warts on the sides of the body are red, and there are also continuous red longitudinal lines on the sides of the body.

Guizhou wart newt is a tailed amphibian of the family Salamandridae and the genus Wart Newt. It lives in small water pits, slow-flowing streams, small ponds and their vicinity in mountainous areas at an altitude of 1800 to 2300 meters, surrounded by weeds or dwarf shrubs, silt or gravel and fine san...

Liangshantriton taliangensis

Liangshantriton taliangensis

Liangshantriton taliangensis,Taliang Knobby Newt,Tylototriton taliangensis,Daliang warty newt

Urodela LC

Features:The trunk is stout, the tail is long and narrow, the skin is very rough and covered with warts, and the body and tail are brown-black or black.

The big newt is a tailed amphibian of the family Salamandridae and the genus Salamandridae. It lives in mountain depressions with dense vegetation and humid environment at an altitude of 1390-3000 meters. It mainly lives in water bodies with a water depth of 54.59-60.93 cm, pH 5.16-7.18, water tempe...

Cynops orphicus

Cynops orphicus

Cynops orphicus,Shantou Salamander

Urodela LC

Features:There is an irregular longitudinal orange-red stripe in the middle of the ventral surface of the body.

The Chaoshan salamander is a tailed amphibian of the family Salamandridae and the genus Salamandridae. It lives in mountainous areas with an altitude of 640 to 1,600 meters. During the breeding season, adult salamanders are mostly active in still ponds and swamps, often living in ponds with a depth...

Andrias davidianus

Andrias davidianus

Andrias davidianus,Chinese Giant Salamander,Andrias scheuchzeri davidianus、Megalobatrachus davidianus、Sieboldia davidi,Giant salamander, mermaid, baby fish, foot fish, crying fish, wax dog

Urodela LC

Features:The body is large and flat, the head is large, flat and broad, and there are irregular black or dark brown markings on the dorsal and ventral surfaces, and some have unclear markings.

The giant salamander is an ancient amphibian that evolved from aquatic fish in the Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era 360 million years ago. It usually lives in caves and stone caves in deep pools of streams and rivers below 1,000 meters above sea level. It is more common in caves above and below...

Hynobius yiwuensis

Hynobius yiwuensis

Hynobius yiwuensis

Urodela LC

Features:The morphology is similar to that of the Chinese salamander, with the ventral surface of the body being grayish white without any spots.

Yiwu small salamander lives in hilly and mountainous areas with an altitude of 100 to 200 meters. Except for the breeding season, it lives on land and is often found under loose and moist soil, stones or rotten branches and leaves. Its traces are rarely found on the ground, except after heavy rain i...