Amphibians and reptiles: overview

In short: Amphibians such as frogs and salamanders mostly undergo a metamorphosis from aquatic to land-dwelling animals, while reptiles such as snakes and lizards are land-dwelling from the start. Both groups are cold-blooded.

In more detail: Amphibians often breathe through gills in young stages and through lungs and skin as adults, while reptiles breathe exclusively through lungs.

In detail

• Metamorphosis: Tadpoles develop through several stages into frogs, with profound physical changes.
• Skin: Amphibian skin is thin and permeable, while reptile skin is scaly and water-repellent.
• Reproduction: Amphibians mostly lay gelatinous eggs in water, while many reptiles lay hard-shelled eggs on land.
• Cold-bloodedness: Both groups regulate their body temperature via their surroundings rather than producing their own heat.
• Ecological role: Amphibians are considered an indicator of water quality because they react sensitively to environmental changes.
• Threats: Many amphibian species worldwide are threatened by fungal diseases and habitat loss.
• Diversity: The variety of forms in both groups ranges enormously, from tiny frogs to large crocodiles (evolution-grundlagen, nahrungskette-und-oekosystem).