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+91-7945023371Amphibian types
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The word amphibian comes from the Greek word for “double-life,” referring to the fact that amphibians start life in water breathing through gills before maturing into lung-breathing land animals, although most never stray too far from water. The class Amphibia is composed of only 3 orders. The order Anura, a word that refers to tailless amphibians, includes frogs and toads ( see Table: Similarities and Differences Between Frogs and Toads). This is the largest order, with nearly 5000 species. The order Caudata, or amphibians with tails—salamanders, newts, and sirens—has about 500 species ( see Table: Some Common Salamanders and Newts). The Gymnophiona order is made up of caecilians: legless, tailless amphibians that spend most of their time burrowing. It has about 160 species.
Similarities and Differences Between Frogs and Toads
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Similarities |
Differences |
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|---|---|---|
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Frogs |
Toads |
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Both hatch from eggs |
Lay eggs in clusters |
Lay eggs in chains |
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Young have gills |
Teeth in upper jaw |
Have no teeth |
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Adults have lungs |
Moist, smooth skin |
Dry, lumpy skin |
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Young live in water |
Jump |
Walk |
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Bulging eyes |
Eyes do not protrude |
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Some Common Salamanders and Newts
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Type |
Location |
Size |
|---|---|---|
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Tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) |
Western-central Canada south to Mexico and east and north to Long Island, New York; sandy soils; common as pets |
Varies according to type; can be up to 12 inches (31 centimeters) |
|
Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum) |
Native to Xochimilco and Chalco lakes, Mexico City; strictly aquatic; common as pets |
8 to 11 inches (20 to 28 centimeters) |
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Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) |
Southern New England and west to parts of Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, and south to north Florida; variety of habitats |
Up to 4.25 inches (11 centimeters) in length |
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Redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus) |
Canada, northern United States to Midwest; woodland |
Small: 2.6 to 4.9 in (6.5 to 12.5 cm) |
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Seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola) |
Southwestern Pennsylvania to Georgia and Alabama; streams, ravines, and similar habitat |
Size varies |
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Blackbelly and shovelnose salamanders (Desmognathus quadramaculatus, D marmoratus) |
Appalachia; springs and streams |
Medium to large |
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Two-lined and Junaluska salamanders (Eurycea bislineata, E junaluska) |
Eastern half of North America |
Small: up to 4.7 inches (12 centimeters) |
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Eastern or red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) |
Eastern half of North America, southern Canada, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida; watery areas |
Varies |
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California newt (Taricha torosa) |
California, west coast of United States |
Up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) |
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Rough-skinned Oregon newt (Taricha granulosa) |
Coastal Pacific northwest from southeast Alaska to San Francisco, California; aquatic or woodlands |
5 to 8.5 inches (13 to 22 centimeters) |
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Fire-bellied newt (Cynops pyrrhogastea) |
China and Japan; however, they are commonly bred and kept as pets |
Varies; generally from 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 centimeters) |
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