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Questions and Answers
What was a major modification required for vertebrates to move from water to land?
What was a major modification required for vertebrates to move from water to land?
What is a characteristic of amphibians?
What is a characteristic of amphibians?
What feature of frogs allows them to make sound?
What feature of frogs allows them to make sound?
What is a key difference between amphibians and reptiles?
What is a key difference between amphibians and reptiles?
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What is the primary reason some amphibians evolved into reptiles?
What is the primary reason some amphibians evolved into reptiles?
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What is the primary function of the membrane in an amniotic egg?
What is the primary function of the membrane in an amniotic egg?
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What is a characteristic that reptiles have in common with amphibians?
What is a characteristic that reptiles have in common with amphibians?
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Which reptiles have a four-chambered heart?
Which reptiles have a four-chambered heart?
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What is the primary function of scales on reptiles' skin?
What is the primary function of scales on reptiles' skin?
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Where can reptiles be found?
Where can reptiles be found?
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Study Notes
Amphibians
- Modification to movement, breathing, and skin were necessary for vertebrates to transition from water to land
- Amphibians are vertebrates that inhabit both freshwater and terrestrial environments
- Examples of modern amphibians include frogs, salamanders, and caecilians
- Amphibians are the first tetrapods, possessing four limbs
- They are ectothermic, meaning their internal body temperature is the same as their environment
- Amphibians have a complex circulatory system featuring a three-chambered heart
- Frogs possess a larynx, enabling them to produce sound
- Oxygen is absorbed through the skin in amphibians
Reproduction in Amphibians
- Amphibians do not produce amniotic eggs
- Eggs are laid in water to prevent desiccation
- Early larvae stages (tadpoles) resemble fish, with gills, no legs, and a tail for swimming
Reptiles
- The limited resources in aquatic environments likely led to the evolution of amphibians into reptiles
- Reptiles are tetrapod vertebrates that produce amniotic eggs, enabling them to survive outside water
- Examples of reptiles include crocodiles, alligators, lizards, snakes, and turtles
Amniotic Eggs
- Amniotic eggs consist of a shell, membrane, and other structures that protect and nourish the embryo
- The yolk provides a rich, fatty food source for the embryo
- The amniotic membrane allows for gas exchange while preventing water loss
Reptile Structures
- Reptiles have scales covering their skin to prevent water loss
- They breathe air exclusively through their lungs (not skin)
- Crocodiles and alligators possess a diaphragm, a large sheet of muscle controlling breathing
- Reptiles are ectothermic, having the same body temperature as their environment
- Most reptiles have a three-chambered heart, while crocodiles and alligators have a four-chambered heart
- Reptiles inhabit ocean, freshwater, and land environments
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Description
Learn about the adaptations and characteristics of amphibians, including their movement, breathing, and skin modifications, as well as their classification as vertebrates.
