Amphibian ADAPTATIONS Ms. Bridgeland 5th Grade

Stage 1: Adult frogs

Stage 2: Frogs lay eggs in water, which then are fertilized.

*How are Amphibian Eggs different from other eggs?

-They do NOT have a shell, but instead a jelly-like protective coating

Stage 3: Larvae After a few days, larvae wriggle out of the

protective jelly that coats the egg and begin a free-swimming, fishlike life

The larvae of a frog or toad is called tadpole.

As they grow, larvae undergo a ______________________?

Metamorphosis A process where an animal develops after birth

or hatching, involving a sudden change in the animal’s structure

Stage 4: Larvae develops hind (back) legs

Stage 5: Front legs develop

Stage 6: Frog loses tail and becomes a mature adult

Amphibians: ADAPTATIONS

What is an adaptation? Once amphibians are adults, what new adaptations do they need to live on land?

Adaptation: OXYGEN While amphibians are larvae, (example

tadpoles), how do they breathe?

Once, they are on land, how do they breathe? Amphibians must get oxygen from the

AIR instead of the water once they are on land

During metamorphoses, amphibians lose their gills and develop LUNGS.

What two gases are exchanged through the lungs? OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE

Adaptation: Circulatory System A tadpole’s circulatory system is similar to a fish: it

has a single loop and a heart with 2 chambers

Adult amphibians have two loops and a heart with three chambers.

Atria: upper chamber of the heart that receives blood.

Ventricle: the lower chamber where oxygen rich and oxygen-poor blood mixes –blood moves from the atria to this lower chamber

Far left = fish circulatory systemMiddle = amphibian circulatory system

Adaptation: Movement Some frogs have sticky pads on their

toes to climb trees

Others have webbed feet for swimming

Adaptation: Obtaining Food

Tadpoles are HERBIVORES (only eat plants

Adult salamanders, frogs, and toads are CARNIVORES

Frogs and toads WAIT for their prey

Salamanders AMBUSH their prey (chase after their prey)

Adaptation: Body Structure Adult amphibians are vertebrates and

have strong skeletons to support their body against the pull of gravity

What are two reasons that amphibians might become endangered?

Destruction of their habitats= when a swamp is filled in or a forest is cut, an area that was moist, or more wet, becomes drier. Most amphibians cannot live in dry, sunny areas.

Pollution = pollution in water (pesticides and chemicals damage the skin and eggs of amphibians)