Amphibians 两栖动物(英文).pptVIP

Amphibians.ppt 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Amphibians 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Class Amphibians Old group of tetrapod (4-footed) vertebrates, older than reptiles. Origin in mid-Paleozoic 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Class Amphibians Less well adapted to terrestrial environment Smooth skin, no scales (no keratin ?) External fertilization depend on water for mating; sperm and eggs released together into water No embryonic membranes, Egg must stay moist usually in water, rarely in moist soil 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Amphibian Life Cycle Larvae (immature form, tadpoles) hatch in water, Gills for gas exchange. Tail Metamorphosis to adult form growth of limbs development of lungs and loss of gills loss of tail in frogs, toads Adult usually terrestrial, some exceptions 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Amphibian Life Cycle Live in two habitats exploit two sets of resources Produce large numbers of eggs No parental care, tadpoles “on their own” 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Amphibian Life Cycle Advantages Produce abundant offspring (less investment of matter, energy in each) At least a few likely to survive. Disadvantages Each egg/tadpole has small chance of survival wasteful dependent on water, few can live far from surface water 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Class Amphibians Order Salamanders Primitive form with four equal legs Retain tail 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Class Amphibians Order Frogs Tail lost in metamorphosis Hind legs enlarged, hopping or leaping locomotion 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * Class Amphibians Order Caecilians legless, burrowing (resemble earthworms, but with skull backbone) tropical 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * AMPHIBIANS as Environmental Indicators Decline in frog, toad, and salamander populations reported, world wide. Is a worldwide decline real ? If so, what cause or causes of decline (hypotheses): 02 Sept. 2010 Amphibians.ppt * AMPHIBIANS as Environmental Indicators H1: Water pollution Industrial waste