# 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! - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Amphibia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Fire_salamander_%28Salamandra_Salamandra%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fire_salamander_%28Salamandra_Salamandra%29.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** 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 - **Sticky Tongue Strike:** Amphibians can rapidly extend a sticky tongue to snatch insects because it helps them capture fast-moving prey. - **Skin Breathing Power:** Amphibians can absorb oxygen through their moist skin because it allows them to breathe underwater or on land. - **Habitat Hopping:** Amphibians can live both in water and on land because their unique bodies adapt to different environments. - **Chemical Defense:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching amphibians, as they can have sensitive skin. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Amphibia? Compare body shape, toes, markings, tail and skin texture. Tadpoles and larvae can look nothing like the adults they turn into. Amphibian Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Amphibia? 0.77-180 cm ### How much does Amphibia weigh? 0.0005-60 kg ### How long does Amphibia live? 2-55 years ### How fast can Amphibia move? 15 km/h ### What does Amphibia eat? Amphibians are carnivores, mostly eating small insects and other invertebrates. ### Where is Amphibia usually found? Wetlands ### How does Amphibia hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Zoo Atlanta](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-atlanta) — Georgia, US · Zoo - [Reptile Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reptile-gardens) — South Dakota, US · Zoo ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Amphibia: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amphibia)