The primary distinguishing feature between amphibians and reptiles is the ability of an amphibian to sustain life underwater for at least part of its life. Amphibians are smoother and moister than reptiles, which are dry and scaly, and need to live close to a water source. Toggle navigation. Amphibians vs. Reptiles Amphibians and reptiles are both classes of living things that are cold-blooded and have backbones. In the eggs, small tadpoles develop and break free.
This is their second stage of life, larvae. Their larval state is where they begin to develop and gain size. Living fully aquatically and breathing though gills, these larval amphibians also have smooth slimy skin to protect them. Once they grow legs, they begin to absorb their tail and gills until they have fully developed into their final form, whether that be a frog, toad, or salamander.
Newts have one more life stage when they become fully mature and return to the water to breed for the remainder of their lives. From there they grow into mature animals and the cycle begins again. One easily noticeable difference between reptiles and amphibians is their skin. While both classes of animals shed their skin, the biology and structure of their skin is quite different.
Reptiles generally have thin and often delicate skin covered in protective durable scales. These scales are made of keratin just like our hair and fingernails. Scales protect the reptile from predators and the rough terrains they can live in.
Scales can also affect how they absorb the rays of the sun and help protect desert dwelling species. Amphibians on the other hand, have either smooth slimy skin or rough dry skin.
Larval amphibians, frogs, salamanders, and caecilians all have slimy smooth skin. Adult toads and newt efts have dry rough skin. Amphibians can breathe through their skin passively, along with or instead of active breathing with their lungs. This is one reason the mucus or wax they secrete and their slimy skin are so important.
The wax or slime helps keep the skin moist and able to keep transferring oxygen to their blood cells. Both reptiles and amphibians have the ability to carry toxic compounds in their bodies, but the delivery method and use of the toxins differs greatly.
In reptiles we think of venomous snakes such as the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Most of the reptiles that have venom are snakes, but there are also a few lizards and some hypothesis on others. Venom is a toxic liquid comprised proteins and other compounds that is developed in glands in the head of a snake or lizard. As they lay their eggs on land and have only lungs to breathe. Alligators, snakes, lizards, turtles are some of the examples. Another important feature is the skin of these creatures, which is scaly and hard known as keratinous skin.
This type of skin is not permeable to water and in mammals, Keratins in found in fingernails and hairs. This help crocodiles and sea snakes to live in a saline environment. There are around species of the Reptiles found till yet. Another vital point to know about reptiles is that the way they incubate their eggs. As this is done by digging into gravel, sand or dirt and this is done to maintain the temperature of the eggs.
In the above article, we explored the two categories, whose names get interchanged. We also studied the distinguishable features and was able to gain more information about them. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Key Differences Between Amphibians and Reptiles Given below are the essential points which differentiate between amphibians and reptiles: Amphibians and Reptiles are ectothermic or cold-blooded animals, but amphibians spend half of their life on land and half in water, while reptiles live on land.
Amphibians spend their larval stage is spent in water and adulthood on land while reptiles live on land terrestrial animal but some of them like alligators, turtles and crocodile can live in water also. Examples of amphibians are Toads, Frogs, Salamanders, etc. Even some show external and some show internal fertilization.
As amphibians live on land and in water, they can also breathe in both ways, which can be through gills or from the lungs , while Reptiles breathe only through the lungs. Amphibians have the limitation of visualising certain up to narrow bands of the colour spectrum, on the other hand, reptiles have a wide range of colour spectrum and can visualize and distinguish different colours. Both the group of animals have a three-chambered heart , but in case of reptiles, the ventricle is further divided through a septum.
Amphibians secrets toxins from their skin, which protect them from predators and other environmental conditions; Reptiles have hard scales and protection all over their skin; they also produce toxins from teeth and nails.
Amphibians have smooth, sticky, moist and highly porous skin to perform the various function, whereas reptiles have dry, hard and scaly skin, which guard them in harsh condition. Amphibians lay their eggs in water which are covered with gel, while reptiles lay their eggs on land, and have a hard protective shell. Amphibians use webbed feet , which help them in swimming and jumping, on the contrary reptiles have four limbs , helping them in running and swimming, exception likes snakes do not have limbs, and they crawl.
Comments Thanks. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Amphibians are ectothermic or cold-blooded animals, living on land or in water.
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