52 Questions
Why did the earliest amphibians develop primitive lungs?
To help breathe when the pools were devoid of oxygen
What adaptation allowed amphibians to spend longer periods on land?
Development of heavier and stronger skeleton
Why was there little pressure for amphibians to become better adapted to land?
The presence of water everywhere made land adaptation unnecessary
What feature enabled amphibians to resist desiccation on land?
The ability of the skin to retain body fluids
What was the primary reason for the first vertebrates to adapt to a land environment from water?
To survive alternating floods and droughts
Which feature of lobe-finned fishes was beneficial for the first amphibians when they appeared?
Strong and mobile fins for swimming and locomotion
What does the fossil example of a salamander-like amphibian suggest about its evolutionary characteristics?
It retained many fish-like characteristics
What does the recent fossil of Acanthostega suggest about the development of legs in amphibians?
Legs developed while the animal was fully underwater
In which stage of development do frog larvae primarily feed on small invertebrates?
Larvae stage
What is the primary mode of reproduction for amphibians?
External fertilization
Which group of amphibians is known for their legless, wormlike body and absence of limbs and limb girdles?
Caecilians
How do adult amphibians primarily eliminate solid and liquid waste material from their bodies?
Through their cloaca
Which respiratory organ do amphibians primarily rely on to exchange gases directly when in contact with water?
Skin
What is the primary function of the webbed feet commonly found in amphibians?
To enhance swimming ability
Which circulatory system characteristic distinguishes adult amphibians from the larval stage?
Three-chambered heart
Which type of defense strategy involves an amphibian creating a burning sensation in the mouth of predators?
Fluid secretion
In which habitat are caecilians primarily found?
Tropical forests of South America
Which body form is typically associated with salamanders?
Elongated trunk with distinct head, neck, tail
What is the primary mode of respiration for adult amphibians?
Lung respiration
In which region of the world are most species of salamanders and newts found?
North America
Amphibians primarily eliminate ______ and liquid waste material from their bodies
solid
Liquid waste is secreted as ______
urine
Urine enters kidneys, being filtered into and pass into the urinary bladder for temporary ______
storage
Both solid and liquid waste material is discharged through the ______
cloaca
The amphibian excretion process involves the discharge of ______ and liquid waste material
solid
Digestive waste enters cloaca before it is ______ from the body
eliminated
Amphibians secrete liquid waste in the form of ______
urine
Cloaca is the opening through which amphibians discharge both solid and ______ waste material
liquid
Amphibians discharge both solid and liquid waste material through the ______
cloaca
The amphibian excretory system manages the elimination of both solid and ______ waste material
liquid
Amphibians secrete both solid and ______ waste material as part of their excretion process
liquid
The excretion process in amphibians includes the elimination of both solid and ______ waste material
liquid
Amphibians developed a heavier and stronger ______ for better support on land
skeleton
The strengthening of limbs in amphibians was essential for better ______
locomotion
The evolution of amphibians led to the skin being able to retain body fluids and resist ______
desiccation
The competition was minimal for amphibians, allowing them to be on top of most food chains due to their stronger and heavier ______
skeleton
Amphibians evolved from lobe-finned fishes and possessed strong and mobile ______ used as stabilizers during swimming.
fins
The fossil example of a salamander-like amphibian retained many characteristics of fish, such as a skull and tooth structures similar to fish, with a more elongated ______.
snout
The recent fossil of Acanthostega, one of the earliest known Devonian tetrapods, suggests that legs developed while the animal remained underwater, indicating the development of ______ while underwater.
legs
Acanthostega, the early tetrapod, had assemble fish tail with ______ rays.
fin
The amphibian skull is dicondylic, and the skeleton is mostly ________
bony
Amphibians show varying number of ________
vertebrae
Some amphibians may have ribs, while some are ________
absent
The body of amphibians is divisible into head and ________
trunk
The tail is present in Urodela, but ________ in Anuran
absent
The amphibian skull is dicondylic, and the ________ does not persist
notochord
The amphibian skull is dicondylic, and the skeleton is mostly bony. Some amphibians may have ________, while some are absent
ribs
The amphibian skull is ________, and the skeleton is mostly bony
dicondylic
The amphibian skull is dicondylic, and the ________ is present in Urodela, but absent in Anuran
tail
The amphibian skull is dicondylic, and the skeleton is mostly bony. The body is divisible into head and ________
trunk
The amphibian skull is dicondylic, and the skeleton is mostly bony. The body divisible into head and trunk. The tail is ________ in Urodela, but absent in Anuran
present
The amphibian skull is dicondylic, and the skeleton is mostly bony. Varying number of ________
vertebrae
Study Notes
Evolution of Amphibians
- Earliest amphibians developed primitive lungs to adapt to changing oxygen levels in water and to breathe air.
- The adaptation that allowed amphibians to spend longer periods on land was the development of skin that could resist water loss.
Characteristics of Amphibians
- Amphibians resist desiccation on land due to their permeable skin that helps to conserve water.
- The primary reason for the first vertebrates to adapt to a land environment from water was to escape lack of food and oxygen in water.
- Lobe-finned fishes' feature that was beneficial for the first amphibians was their limb-like fins.
Fossil Records
- The fossil example of a salamander-like amphibian suggests that it retained many characteristics of fish, such as a skull and tooth structures similar to fish, with a more elongated body.
- The recent fossil of Acanthostega suggests that legs developed while the animal remained underwater.
Developmental Stages
- Frog larvae primarily feed on small invertebrates during the aquatic stage of their development.
Reproduction and Respiration
- The primary mode of reproduction for amphibians is through external fertilization of eggs.
- Amphibians rely on their skin to exchange gases directly when in contact with water.
Body Structure and Functions
- Webbed feet in amphibians are primarily used for propulsion and maneuverability in water.
- Adult amphibians have a closed circulatory system, unlike their larval stage which has an open circulatory system.
- Caecilians are legless, wormlike amphibians that lack limbs and limb girdles.
Excretion and Waste Elimination
- Amphibians primarily eliminate solid and liquid waste material from their bodies through the cloaca.
- Liquid waste is secreted as urine, which enters the kidneys and is filtered into the urinary bladder for temporary storage.
- Both solid and liquid waste material is discharged through the cloaca.
Defense Mechanisms
- Some amphibians can create a burning sensation in the mouth of predators as a defense strategy.
Habitat and Distribution
- Caecilians are primarily found in underground habitats.
- Salamanders are typically characterized by their long, slender bodies.
- Most species of salamanders and newts are found in the region of North America and Europe.
Test your knowledge of the general characteristics and diet of amphibians with this quiz. Explore their vertebrate nature, ectothermic behavior, and oviparous reproduction. Learn about the varying diets of frog and salamander larvae at different development stages.
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