Phylogeny & Evolution
Amphibians are considered the first of these because they have well-developed forelimbs and hindlimbs.
What are tetrapods?
These specialized cells in the epidermis provide amphibians with their color and allow some to change it.
What are chromatophores?
An amphibian heart consists of this many total chambers.
What is three?
This is the term for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the capillaries in the skin.
What is cutaneous respiration?
Because they capture and eat prey, adult amphibians belong to this dietary category.
What are carnivores?
Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals all belong to this group, named for animals with backbones.
What are Chordata?
This type of coloration, also known as camouflage, allows an organism to blend into its surroundings.
What is cryptic coloration?
These are the two upper chambers of the amphibian heart that receive blood.
What are the atria (left and right)?
Immature aquatic forms of amphibians use these organs for gas exchange.
What are gills?
Amphibians are the first group of organisms to possess this "true" organ used to manipulate or catch food.
What is the tongue?
In the fossil record, amphibians possess well-developed forelimbs and hindlimbs that include digits, which are also called these.
What are fingers and toes?
This term refers to bright warning colors used to signal to predators that an organism is toxic or a threat.
What is aposematic coloration?
This circuit is responsible for taking blood to and from the tissues of the body.
What is the systemic circuit?
This process uses mouth and pharynx muscles to create positive pressure to force air into the lungs.
What is the buccal pump?
This adjective is used to describe the secretions on the tongue that help to catch certain organisms for food.
What is a sticky secretion?
Amphibians possess this specialized vertebra that consist of five fused vertebrae (S1–S5) forming a single, triangular bone called the sacrum at the base of the spine. It connects the spine to the pelvis
What are sacral vertebrae?
Besides defense, skin toxins in amphibians can protect the animal against these two types of infections.
What are bacterial and fungal infections?
This circuit specifically takes blood to and from the lungs.
What is the pulmonary circuit?
This specific type of respiration involves gas exchange occurring within the mouth and pharynx.
What is buccopharyngeal respiration?
These specific teeth are used to catch, hold, and crush the hard exoskeletons of insects.
What are vomerine teeth?
The fossil record shows amphibians evolved a loss of these structures, which are typically found on fish limbs.
What are fin rays?
If a second species mimics the aposematic coloration of a toxic species, the mortality rate for each population can be cut by this much.
What is half (or from 50% to 25%)?
Because there is only one of these chambers, oxygenated and deoxygenated blood mix before being pumped to the body.
What is the ventricle?
To move air into the mouth, the floor of the mouth drops to create this type of pressure.
What is negative pressure?
These teeth line the upper jaw and are angled backward to help move food toward the pharynx.
What are maxillary teeth?