How are Amphibians Different From Reptiles? And What are Features of Amphibians?

From Animal Lives: Amphibians by World Book Text/Figures What does author say, segment-bysegment? Similarities and differences of reptiles and amphibians Which segments fit together thematically and what is the important idea they express? This section discusses the ways in which amphibians and reptiles are different. These features include their body coverings, how they regulate their body temperature, and the characteristics of their eggs. This section discusses the vocabulary of cold-blooded and predators. Follow up Questions

Reptiles and amphibians share similar traits. They both have backbones, and they are both cold-blooded. But amphibians must live at least part of their lives in water. Reptiles are able to live away from water because their bodies keep moisture inside. One of the main differences between amphibians and reptiles is their body coverings. Reptiles are covered in scales, which help keep moisture inside their bodies. Amphibians do not have scales. They have skin that they must keep moist at all times. Because of this, amphibians tend to live in moist areas like tropical rain forests. More reptiles can live in dry areas like deserts.

Differences in skin covering- skin and scales

Cold-blooded animals have bodies that stay about the same temperature as the air around them. If they get too cold, they cant move around and are in danger of being caught by predators (hunting animals). If they get too hot, they could die. Reptiles solve this problem by sunbathing. They often bask in the sun on hot rocks, which helps to bring up their body temperatures. Many reptiles, like lizards and crocodiles, can move quickly after heating up the sun. Amphibians have more difficulty staying the right temperature. If they spend too much time in the bright sun, their skin will dry up and they will die. For this reason, amphibians spend less time basking in the sun and tend to be less active than reptiles.

Cold-blooded animals have different ways of regulating their body temperatures

How does a tropical rainforest make an ideal environment for amphibians? From what you have read so far, how would you say that scientists approach the study of animals? What do they try to find out about them? What are some ways amphibians regulate their body temperature? How is this different than reptiles? How should we organize all of this information that we are getting from the article?

How are Amphibians Different From Reptiles? And What are Features of Amphibians? From Animal Lives: Amphibians by World Book 4 One of the most important differences between amphibians and reptiles is their eggs. Amphibians lay eggs that resemble fish eggs. The eggs are small and lack a hard shell. Most reptiles lay larger eggs, with tough, leathery shells. Reptiles do not have to lay their eggs in water, but nearly all amphibians do. This limits where amphibians can live. Amphibians come in all shapes and sizes. Some look like underwater lizards. Others look like giant earthworms. But no matter how different they may look from each other, all amphibians have certain features that make them unique among animals. All amphibians are vertebrates (animals that have backbones), and most have four legs. Amphibian legs can be quite different from group to group. Frogs have muscular back legs that allow them to leap great distances. Salamanders have shorter, less powerful legs. Most salamanders run along the ground using all four legs. A few kinds of salamanders that live the year around in the water have only front legs. They do not need back legs because they use their paddlelike tails to swim. The wormlike caecilians have no legs at all! They live mostly underground, where legs can get in the way. Most adult amphibians live on land and breathe with lungs. But a few kinds of amphibians live in the water their entire lives. These animals breathe through gills. Gills are lungs that work underwater. Some amphibians have both lungs and gills. In addition, all amphibians can breathe directly through their skin. More than half of all salamanders have no lungs at all! Differences in amphibian and reptile eggs and how that dictates where amphibians can live Why do reptile eggs need to be so much tougher than amphibian eggs?

Amphibians look very different but have certain characteristics that make them amphibians. They are vertebrates, however leg structures can be different depending on type of amphibian.

This section discusses the features of amphibians. These features include their bodies and more specifically, their legs, lungs and gills, and skin. These sections focus on how even within the amphibian group, there are many variabilities. Vocabulary in this section includes vertebrates, gills, and predators.

What do different leg structures allow different species of amphibians to do?

How amphibians breathe- difference between lungs and gills

What are some reasons that an amphibians skin is so different from one type of amphibian to the next?

How are Amphibians Different From Reptiles? And What are Features of Amphibians? From Animal Lives: Amphibians by World Book 8 Unlike other animals, amphibians have no scales, feathers, or hair covering their skin. Most amphibian skin is smooth and moist, but some toads have thick, leathery skin. Many amphibians produce mucus- a thick, slimy substance that moistens and protects their skin. Some amphibians have poisonous skin. These creatures tend to be brightly colored, so predators know that they are dangerous to eat. Some amphibians can change the color of their skin to blend in with their surroundings. Amphibian skin and the variabilities within that feature- smooth, moist, thick and leathery, mucus Poisonous skin and color is a warning sign to predators also chameleon characteristics What additional information do you feel that you need to cement your understanding of this topic? What would you like to explore further?