ExploreAmphibians

Amphibia

Amphibians are cool animals that can live both in water and on land! They start their lives as tadpoles and grow into frogs or salamanders. They have smooth skin and love to hop around!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Amphibia has smooth, moist skin often in shades of green, brown, or vibrant patterns of red, yellow, and blue. Unlike reptiles, they lack scales, fur, or feathers, and typically feature prominent eyes, large mouths, and webbed feet in many species.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibia

Amphibia

Interesting facts

Many salamanders can regrow lost limbs, tails, and even parts of their brains!

Some amphibians can freeze solid in winter and then thaw out alive!

Some tiny dart frogs have skin poisons strong enough to kill many animals!

The Goliath frog from Africa can grow over a foot long, making it the world's largest frog!

Special abilities

Amphibians can rapidly extend a sticky tongue to snatch insects because it helps them capture fast-moving prey.

Amphibians can absorb oxygen through their moist skin because it allows them to breathe underwater or on land.

Amphibians can live both in water and on land because their unique bodies adapt to different environments.

Some amphibians can release toxic chemicals from their skin because it helps protect them from predators.

Measurements & details

Length: 0.77-180 cm
Weight: 0.0005-60 kg
Lifespan: 2-55 years
Top Speed: 15 km/h
Clutch Size: 1-50000
Metamorphosis: 7-1000 days

Diet & Feeding

Amphibians are carnivores, mostly eating small insects and other invertebrates.

Age differences: Young amphibians (tadpoles) are often herbivorous or omnivorous, eating algae and plants; adults are mostly carnivorous.

Primary Foods

insects
spiders
worms
slugs
small fish
other amphibians

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

House Fly

Musca domestica

Amphibians quickly snap up flies with their tongues.

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Garter snakes frequently prey on frogs and salamanders.

eaten by

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Herons are skilled at catching amphibians in shallow water.

hunts

Common Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

Many amphibians will eat earthworms found in moist soil.

Traits

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.