BY 256L Amphibians Masterlist

Amphibian Characteristics

Tetrapods
Moist, scaleless skin
3-chambered heart
Require moisture for reproduction
Legs project laterally from body
Poikilothermic
Eggs have no shell
Environmental indicators
Epidermis slightly keratinized
Chromatophores
Mucous Glands
Smooth skin (no scales)
Require water for reproduction
10 pairs cranial nerves
Positive pressure breathers

Aquatic Larval Stage

Lack eyelids
Have finlike structure on tail for swimming
External gills
Functional lateral line system

Direct Development

No larval stage
Eggs hatch into "mini adult"

Indirect Development

Aquatic larval stage
Usually terrestrial adult form

Decline in amphibians

Increased UV radiation
Chytrid fungus
Habitat destruction
Siltation of waterways
Climate change
Over-harvesting
Invasive species
Pollution

Amphibian Chytrid Lifecycle

Spores swim towards frog
Spores burrow into skin and develop into thallus
Mature fungus develops into a sporangium
Spores released after 4-5 days
Infected frog usually dies in 120 days

Order Anura

Frogs and toads

Order Anura Characteristics

Elongated ilium
Elongated hind legs
Fused tibia/fibula
Posterior vertebrae fused into urostyle
Pelvis fastened to vertebral column
Flexible pectoral girdle
No tail
"Sight feeders" with large eyes and good vison
External fertilization

Family Bufonidae Characteristics

Native to North and Central America
Blunt head
Heavy bodied
"Warty" skin
Minimal webbing
Paratoid gland

Family Bufonidae Speices

American Toad
Southern Toad
Fowler's Toad

American Toad Characteristics

Paratoid gland is not touching post-orbital ridge
1 to 2 warts per spot
Found in woodlands
High pitched trill

Southern Toad Characteristics

Found in woodlands and fields
Cranial crest and knobs in front of paratoid glands
Eats insects drawn to light
Can hybridize with Fowler's Toad

Fowler's Toad Characteristics

Paratoid gland touches post-orbital ridge
\> 2 warts per spot
Found in woodlands and fields
Most common toad in AL

Family Bufonidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Bufonidae

Family Ranidae Characteristics

All continents (except Antartica)
Tympanic Membranes

Family Ranidae Species

Wood Frog
Goliath Frog
Bull Frog
Leopard Frog

Bull Frog Characteristics

Large
Olive green
Found in large swamps
Tympanic membrane is larger than the eyes (males)
Harvested for frog legs
Used in school dissections

Leopard Frog Characteristics

Green to brown with prominent black spotting
Widespread across Eastern US
Cryptic species complex

Family Ranidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Ranidae

Family Hylidae Characteristics

Tree frogs
Mostly aboreal
Large toe pads

Family Hylidae Species

Grey Frog
Green Frog
White's Frog
Squirrel Frog

Grey Frog Characteristics

Rough skinned
Tree frog
Brown with grey blotches ( can also be greenish in color)
Woodland frog
Bird-like call

Green Frog Characteristics

Tree frog
Mostly green
Sometimes has orange spots that disappear with light and temperature
Long whiteish line along body
Big toe pads

Squirrel Frog Characteristics

Small tree frog
Grey to green
Small toe pads
Carnivorous
Found in Southern half of Alabama

Family Hylidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Hylidae

Family Microhylidae Characteristics

Narrow-mouthed
Arrow-head shape

Family Microhylidae Species

Eastern frog

Family Microhylidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Microhylidae

Family Scaphiopodidae Characteristics

Spadefoots
Burrowers

Family Scahpiopodidae Species

Western frog
Common frog
Eastern Spadefoot

Eastern Spadefoot Characteristics

Vertically elliptical pupils
Yellowish color with brown blotches
Not a true toad
Lives mostly underground
Comes out for mating after rains
Uses "spades" on feet for digging

Family Scaphiopodidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Scaphiopodidae

Family Dendrobatidae Characteristics

Poison frogs
Located in Central and South America
Brightly colored (aposomatic)
Mother feeds tadpoles unfertilized eggs
High levels of alkaloids

Family Dendrobatidae Species

Golden Poison frog

Family Dendrobatidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Dendrobatidae

Order Apoda Characteristics

~ 160 speices
Native to Central and South America, Africa, and Asia
Some brood eggs
Some give live birth
Internal fertilization by male intermittent organ
Lack limbs/girdles
Most are burrowers, some aquatic
Very small eyes
Most adults are blind

Order Apoda

Caecilians

Order Urodela

Salamanders and Newts

Order Urodela Characteristics

Carnivorous
Located in Northern Hemisphere
Over 500 species
Lack ribs
Most have internal fertilization
Some males leave spermatophore
Most species terrestrial as adutls
Return to water to breed/lay eggs

Neoteny

Retention of larval characteristics into adult form

Facultative Neoteny

Metamorphosis is optional/conditional
Does not need to undergo metamorphosis to reproduce
Ex: Tiger salamander

Obligate Neoteny

Always neotenic
Cannot undergo metamorphosis
Ex: Necturus and Siren

Family Protidae Species

Necturus

Necturus Characteristics

Obligate neoteny
Permanently aquatic
Bushy external gills

Family Protidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Protidae

Family Sirenidae Speices

Sirens

Siren Characteristics

Obligate neoteny
Permanently aquatic
Bushy external gills
Anterior legs only

Family Sirenidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Sirenidae

Family Amphiumidae Species

Amphiumas

Amphiuma Characteristics

Permanently aquatic
Internal gills
4 tiny legs
Alabama has 3 species
Can range in size from 8 in to 4 ft in length

Family Amphiumidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Amphiumidae

Family Ambystomatidae Characteristics

Mole salamanders
Most lay eggs in temporary ponds in late winter/spring (except marbled - fall breeder)
All are burrowers, adults spend most time in burrows
Stout/thick bodied
Gilled aquatic larval stage

Family Ambystomatidae Species

Tiger salamander
Spotted salamander
Marbled salamander

Tiger Salamander Characteristics

Grey, green and black blotches
6-10 inches
Facultative neoteny
Popular pet

Spotted Salamander Characteristics

Black body with two longitudinal rows of large yellow spots along body
Males have orange spots on or near head
6-10 inches in length
Eggs/embryos may have symbiotic relationship with green algae
Males leave spermatophore for females to pick up in cloaca
Internal fertilization

Marbled Salamander Characteristics

Smaller compared to others in this Genus
3-5 inches
Breeds in the fall

Family Ambystomatidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Ambystomatidae

Family Plethodontidae Characteristics

Lungless salamanders
Use nasolabial grooves to smell
Respire through skin

Family Plethodontidae Species

Dusky salamander
2-lined salamander
3-lined salamander
Red salamander
Zig-zag salamander
Green Salamander
Slimy Salamander

Indirect Development Species

Dusky salamander
2-lined salamander
3-lined salamander
Red salamander

Direct Development Species

Zig-zag salamander
Green salamander
Slimy salamander

2-Lined Salamander Characteristics

Yellowish base color with 2 black stripes down back
Large geographic distribution
Common along streams
Indirect Development
Carnivorous

3-Lined Salamander

Yellowish base color with 3 black stripes down back
Lives near/in/along small streams and moist woodlands
Very skinny
Indirect development

Red Salamander Characteristics

Reddish with black speckles
Becomes duller in color with age
4-8 inches in length
Indirect development
Lives near/in/along small streams
Robust/sturdy compared to other Plethodontid salamanders

Slimy Salamander Characteristics

Dull black/grey ground color
Most have some white specks
Direct development
13 species (3 native to Alabama)
Secrete "slimy" substance from their skin

Family Plethodontidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Plethodontidae

Family Salamandridae Characteristics

Rough, drier skin than most salamanders
Toxic skin secretions
Aposematic juvenile

Family Salamandridae Species

Eastern Newt

Eastern Newt Life Cycle

Aquatic egg
Gilled aquatic larva
Terrestrial Red Eft lives on land for 2-3 years
Returns to water as early aquatic adult
Tail laterally compresses into keel, back legs become more robust and feet become webbed for swimming
Lays eggs in adult form
Spends rest of life in water

Eastern Newt Characteristics

Rough, drier skin than most salamanders
Terrestrial juvenile with toxic skin secretions
Aposematic terrestrial juvenile
Aquatic larval and adult stages
Woodland
Carnivorous

Family Salamandridae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Salamadridae

Family Cryptobranchidae Characteristics

Giant salamanders
Very environmentally sensitive
Permanently Aquatic

Family Cryptobranchidae Species

Hellbender salamander

Family Cryptobranchidae Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Amphibia
Order Urodela
Family Cryptobranchidae