Amphibia Felicity Hallett and Olivia Hammam

Scientific Classification  Kingdom : Animalia  Phylum : Chordata  Subphylum : Vertebrata  Class : Amphibia

Characteristics  Kingdom: Animalia  Multicellular  Heterotrophic  Eukaryotic  No Cell Wall  Phylum: Chordata  Spinal Cord  Pharyngeal Slits (Throat)

Characterisitics  Subphylum: Vertebrata  Vertebrae (Bones around spinal cord)  A brain enclosed inside of a skull  Endoskeleton (grows with the organism)  Closed circulatory system  Excretion through the kidneys  Sexual reproduction seperates male and female (mostly)

Characteristics  Class: Amphibia  Dwells on land and water  Cold-blooded  Smooth and hairless  Endoskeleton  A three-chambered heart (two atria and one ventricle)  Undergo completemetamorphasis  Ten cranial nerve are present  Exothermic body temperature (heats from the outside rather than the inside)

Seven Taxa  American Bullfrog  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Subphylum: Vertebrata  Class: Amphibia  Order: Anura  Family: Ranidae  Genus: Rana  Species: R. catesbeiana  Fire Salamander  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Class: Amphibia  Order: Caudata  Family: Salamandridae  Genus: Salamandra  Species: S. salamandra

Seven Taxa  Ichthyophis  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Subphylum: Vertebrata  Class: Amphibia  Subclass: Lissamphibia  Order: Gymnophiona  Family: Ichthyophiidae  Genus: Ichthyophis

Interesting Facts  Amphibians were the first four-limbed vertebrates!  A group of salamanders known as the plethodontids have no lungs  The largest amphibian is the Chinese giant salamander!!

Food Getting and Locomotion  Example: Frogs  Frogs are carnivores. They eat insects, small fish, spiders, etc.  Frogs have long, sticky tongues that quickly move in and out to catch their food.  Frogs also have very small teeth that are mainly used to hold the prey.  Then, the frog pulls its eyes down into its mouth to help push the food down its throat.  Frogs are divided into 3 groups:  Apoda: do not have limbs  Urodela: Have equal sized limbs  Anura: short front limbs, long back legs.  Most frogs jump although, some walk, run, swim and/or glide.  A Dailymail article stated: “Frogs use their muscles to 'wind up' the tendons in their legs, which release like archer's bows, hurling the amphibians upwards”

Circulation -Three chambered heart (1 ventricle, 2 atria) -Amphibians have a double circuit which provides faster and more efficient pumping.

Digestion Parts of the digestive system of a frog includes: Mouth Pharynx esophagus Stomach Small intestine Large intestine Cloaca (body cavity) Accessory organs

Excretion  After following the digestive system,  Liquids are passed to the urinary bladder  Solids are routed to the cloaca  Both the liquids (urine) and solids are released through the cloaca.

Gas Exchange  While a frog is in water, all of the gas exchange happens through the skin. They take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.  When a frog isn’t in the water, the mucus glands keep the frog moist.  Frogs can also breathe similar to a human; in through the nose, down to the lungs and then released the same way.  When a frog sleeps, it exchanges gases through the lining of its mouth. They also breathe less often while resting.

Bibliography         &bih=979&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI9M2_hrr- xwIVAoYNCh0SOAJg#imgrc=-wbsW0fKwSmQvM%3A &bih=979&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI9M2_hrr- xwIVAoYNCh0SOAJg#imgrc=-wbsW0fKwSmQvM%3A  