EXTERNAL STRUCTURE,

AMPHIBIANS
Presented by:
LOCOMOTION,
NUTRITION
17371506-010 AREEJ TARIQ AND
17371506-016 KHADIJA KARIM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
AMPHIBIANS
General Characters

Smooth skin with mucoid secretions

Lack epidermal scales, feathers or hairs

Aquatic larva

During metamorphosis, gills get reabsorbed and convert into lungs

Two atrial chambers in the heart

One cervical and one sacral vertebrae

3 orders
 Order Caudata
 Order Gymnophiona
 Order Anura
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AMPHIBIANS

-Elongate, limbless, tail short and pointed

-Burrow
-Worm like -In moist environment, few in dry
-Segmented by annular grooves environment
-Nearly blind -Tadpole aquatic
-e.g. Caecilians -Tailless
-Elongate hind limbs for jumping
-In moist forest floors or caves, and swimming
Gymnophiona -Urostyle
-Long tail, Two pairs of limbs
-Aquatic larva -Tympanum and larynx well
-Lack middle ear developed
-e.g. Salamanders, newts -e.g. Frogs and toads

Caudata Anura

Order 3
 SALAMENDER

CAECILIAN

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 FROG

TOAD

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EXTERNAL STRUCTURE
Skin
Protects from U.V radiations, desiccation and mechanical injury.

Gas exchange, temperature regulation, and water absorption.

Lacks scales, feathers, or hair.

Highly glandular, secretions aid in protection.

Produce sticky secretions that help a male cling to a female during mating.

Produce toxic chemicals that discourage potential predators.

Warts, claws, or sandpapery textures; keratin deposits

Chromatophores in the epidermis of the skin

Cryptic coloration, aposematic coloration, and mimicry 6

LOCOMOTION
Support and Movement

Small, flattened and light weight skull, fewer bony elements

Changes in jaw structure and musculature

Modification of the vertebral column

Acts like the arch of a suspension bridge by supporting the weight of the body

Zygapophyses; supportive processes on each vertebra

Unlike fishes, amphibians have a neck.

The first vertebra is a cervical vertebra, moves against the back of the skull,

allows the head to nod vertically. 7

LOCOMOTION
Cont..

The last trunk vertebra is a sacral vertebra

Anchors the pelvic girdle to the vertebral column to provide increased support.

A ventral plate of bone; sternum is present in the anterior ventral trunk region

Supports the forelimbs and protects internal organs.

It is reduced or absent in the Anura.

Joints at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist, and ankle allow freedom of

movement and better contact with the substrate.

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LOCOMOTION
Cont..

The pelvic girdle consists of three bones (the ilium, ischium, and pubis)

that firmly attach pelvic appendages to the vertebral column; support

Depend more on appendages for locomotion.

Thus, body-wall musculature is reduced, and appendicular musculature

predominates.

Salamanders employ a relatively unspecialized form of locomotion like the

unadulatory waves that pass along the body of a fish.

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LOCOMOTION
Cont..

Terrestrial salamanders also move by a pattern of limb and body movements

Caecilians have an accordion-like movement

The long hind limbs and the pelvic girdle of anurans are modified for jumping.

The dorsal bone of the pelvis extends anteriorly

securely attaches to the vertebral column

the urostyle extends posteriorly and attaches to the pelvis

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LOCOMOTION
Cont..

These skeletal modifications stiffen the posterior half of the anuran.

Long hind limbs and powerful muscles form an efficient lever system for

jumping.

Elastic connective tissues and muscles attach the pectoral girdle to the skull and

vertebral column, and function as shock absorbers for landing on the forelimbs.

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NUTRITION AND THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Most adult amphibians are carnivores that feed on a wide variety of invertebrates.

E.g. a bullfrog (anuran) prey on small mammals, birds, and other anurans.

prey size and availability are main factors

Most larvae are herbivorous and feed on algae and other plant matter.

Amphibians often locate their prey by sight and simply wait for prey to pass by.

Olfaction plays an important role in prey detection by aquatic salamanders and caecilians.

Many salamanders are relatively unspecialized in their feeding methods, using only their

jaws to capture prey

A true tongue 12
NUTRITION AND THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Cont..

Use their tongue and jaws in a flip-and-grab feeding mechanism .

Tongue attaches at the anterior margin of the jaw and folds back over the floor of the

mouth.

Mucous and buccal glands on the tip of the tongue

When prey comes within range, an amphibian moves forward and flicks out its

tongue.

The tongue turns over, and the lower jaw is depressed.

The head tilts which helps aim the strike. 13

NUTRITION AND THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Cont..

The tip of the tongue entraps the prey, and the tongue and prey

are flicked back inside the mouth.

Press it against teeth on the roof of the mouth

The eyes sink downward and push the food towards the

esophagus.

Takes only 0.05 to 0.15 second!

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