Reptiles And Amphibians Animals
Amphibians and reptiles both are cold-blooded vertebrates. However, there are key differences between them. The root of the differences is that amphibians spend part of their lives in water, while reptiles evolved to live on dry land. Here is a look at amphibians and reptiles, examples of each of them, and a summary of their differences.
Amphibians (and reptiles) are cold-blooded vertebrates. This means their body temperature is close to the temperature of the environment and they have backbones with spinal cords. But, amphibians are tied to water, whether it be a river, pond, or just damp plants. Amphibians lay their jelly-like eggs in water. Fertilization occurs after the eggs are laid. The eggs hatch into larvae that have gills. For example, tadpoles are the larvae of frogs. In most species, the larvae undergo a metamorphosis into adults. They gain lungs and sometimes legs and spend more time on land. Amphibians have moist skin (no scales). They can breathe through their skin and may secrete toxins through it.
Reptiles complete their life cycle without water, even though some may live on or near it. Reptiles mate (internal fertilization) and most lay eggs. The eggs are either hard-shelled or leathery. The young are miniature versions of the adults, so there is no metamorphosis. Many reptiles have scales, but they all have dry, leathery skin.
Reptiles And Amphibians Of New Zealand: A Field Guide By Dylan Van Winkel, Marleen Baling And Rod Hitchmough
Telling amphibians and reptiles apart is not as easy as identifying whether or not it lives in water. Sometimes you have to take a closer look to distinguish between amphibians and reptiles. For example, a adult salamander and a lizard look a lot alike. Most of the time, the easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at their skin. Salamanders and other amphibians have thin, damp skin. Lizards have scaly or plated dry skin.
Turtles are another example. Many turtles spend almost all their time in the water. They even have the webbed feet associated with amphibians. However, turtles have hard, scaly skin. They breathe air at all stages of their lives. Turtles lay their eggs on land and their young look like tiny adults.
Amphibians are older than reptiles. The first amphibians arose about 370 million years ago in the Devonian period from fish that resemble the lungfish and coelacanth. Reptiles, birds, and mammals (collectively called amniotes) trace their origins to ancestors that lived around 310 million years ago in the Carboniferous period.
Aging Insights From Reptiles And Amphibians
Herpetology is the scientific study of amphibians and reptiles. The word herpetology comes from the Greek word herpetón, which means “creeping animal”. The study of amphibians is batrachology.
Telling amphibians and reptiles apart is not as easy as identifying whether or not it lives in water. Sometimes you have to take a closer look to distinguish between amphibians and reptiles. For example, a adult salamander and a lizard look a lot alike. Most of the time, the easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at their skin. Salamanders and other amphibians have thin, damp skin. Lizards have scaly or plated dry skin.
Turtles are another example. Many turtles spend almost all their time in the water. They even have the webbed feet associated with amphibians. However, turtles have hard, scaly skin. They breathe air at all stages of their lives. Turtles lay their eggs on land and their young look like tiny adults.
Amphibians are older than reptiles. The first amphibians arose about 370 million years ago in the Devonian period from fish that resemble the lungfish and coelacanth. Reptiles, birds, and mammals (collectively called amniotes) trace their origins to ancestors that lived around 310 million years ago in the Carboniferous period.
Aging Insights From Reptiles And Amphibians
Herpetology is the scientific study of amphibians and reptiles. The word herpetology comes from the Greek word herpetón, which means “creeping animal”. The study of amphibians is batrachology.
Telling amphibians and reptiles apart is not as easy as identifying whether or not it lives in water. Sometimes you have to take a closer look to distinguish between amphibians and reptiles. For example, a adult salamander and a lizard look a lot alike. Most of the time, the easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at their skin. Salamanders and other amphibians have thin, damp skin. Lizards have scaly or plated dry skin.
Turtles are another example. Many turtles spend almost all their time in the water. They even have the webbed feet associated with amphibians. However, turtles have hard, scaly skin. They breathe air at all stages of their lives. Turtles lay their eggs on land and their young look like tiny adults.
Amphibians are older than reptiles. The first amphibians arose about 370 million years ago in the Devonian period from fish that resemble the lungfish and coelacanth. Reptiles, birds, and mammals (collectively called amniotes) trace their origins to ancestors that lived around 310 million years ago in the Carboniferous period.
Aging Insights From Reptiles And Amphibians
Herpetology is the scientific study of amphibians and reptiles. The word herpetology comes from the Greek word herpetón, which means “creeping animal”. The study of amphibians is batrachology.
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