Download Amphibian ADAPTATIONS

Amphibian
ADAPTATIONS
Ms. Bridgeland
5th Grade
Stage 1: Adult frogs
Stage 2: Frogs lay eggs in water,
which then are fertilized.
*How are Amphibian Eggs different
from other eggs?
-They do NOT have a shell, but instead
a jelly-like protective coating
Stage 3: Larvae
 After
a few days, larvae wriggle out of the
protective jelly that coats the egg and
begin a free-swimming, fishlike life
 The larvae of a frog or toad is called
tadpole.
As
they grow, larvae
undergo a
______________________?
Metamorphosis

A process where an animal develops after birth or
hatching, involving a sudden change in the
animal’s structure
Stage 4: Larvae develops hind (back)
legs
Stage 5: Front legs develop
Stage 6: Frog loses tail and becomes a
mature adult
Amphibians: ADAPTATIONS
What
is an adaptation?
Once amphibians are
adults, what new
adaptations do they need
to live on land?
Adaptation: OXYGEN
 While
amphibians are larvae, (example
tadpoles), how do they breathe?
Once, they are on land, how
do they breathe?
 Amphibians
must get oxygen from the AIR
instead of the water once they are on
land
 During metamorphoses, amphibians lose
their gills and develop LUNGS.
 What two gases are exchanged through
the lungs?

OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE
Adaptation: Circulatory
System

A tadpole’s circulatory system is similar to a fish: it
has a single loop and a heart with 2 chambers

Adult amphibians have two loops and a heart with
three chambers.

Atria: upper chamber of the heart that receives
blood.

Ventricle: the lower chamber where oxygen rich
and oxygen-poor blood mixes

–blood moves from the atria to this lower chamber
Far left = fish circulatory system
Middle = amphibian
circulatory system
Adaptation: Movement
 Some
frogs have sticky pads on their toes
to climb trees
 Others
have webbed feet for swimming
Adaptation: Obtaining Food
 Tadpoles
are HERBIVORES (only eat plants
 Adult
salamanders, frogs, and toads are
CARNIVORES
 Frogs
and toads WAIT for their prey
 Salamanders
AMBUSH their prey (chase
after their prey)
Adaptation: Body Structure
 Adult
amphibians are vertebrates and
have strong skeletons to support their
body against the pull of gravity
What are two reasons that
amphibians might become
endangered?
 Destruction
of their habitats= when a
swamp is filled in or a forest is cut, an area
that was moist, or more wet, becomes
drier. Most amphibians cannot live in dry,
sunny areas.
 Pollution
= pollution in water (pesticides
and chemicals damage the skin and
eggs of amphibians)