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What is an Amphibian?

Amphibian Life Cycle

Frogs Are Disappearing

Frogs vs Toads

Frogs & Toads of Ontario

Salamanders of Ontario

WHAT IS AN AMPHIBIAN?

The word "amphibian" is derived from the Greek words "amphi" and "bios" which means two lives and refers to the aquatic tadpole and the terrestrial adult stages of all salamanders, newts, frogs and toads. Amphibians all lay eggs and are characterized by their smooth, moist skin. Amphibians do not drink. They absorb water and much of the oxygen they need through their skin, although most use lungs as well. Some species are active at night and avoid the drying effects of the sun. Others shelter in moist habitats under logs, rocks, leaves, mosses and ferns. Amphibians shed their skin about once a week. Most frogs and toads eat their skin that splits down the back, which they then pull into their mouth with their front legs. Amphibians are highly advanced animals that are superbly adapted to their environments.

Taxonomy of Ontario's Amphibians
All identified plants and animals in the world are organized into groups based on their special characteristics. The Linnaeus system of classification has been used all over the world since the late 1700's. The system uses Latin names to distinguish species, so all plants and animals that have been identified to date have a Latin (also called a scientific) name. The advantage to this is that the Latin names are consistent regardless of language and this system ensures that there is no confusion when a new species is discovered! So, plants and animals have both a common name and a Latin name. Here is the classification of Ontario's amphibians:

Kingdom:	Animalia (animals)
Phylum:	Vertebrata (vertebrates: animals with a backbone)
Class:	Amphibia (amphibians: animals with terrestrial and aquatic stages to their life cycle)
Order:	Anura (frogs and toads), Caudata (salamanders: tailed amphibians)
Family:	Ranidae (true frogs), Bufonidae (toads), Hylidae (treefrogs), Ambystomatidae (mole salamanders), Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders), Proteidae (permanently aquatic salamanders), Salamandridae (newts)
Genus:	Rana, Bufo, Hyla, Pseudacris, Acris, Ambystoma, Plethodon, Desmognathus, Eurycea, Hemidactylium, Necturus, Notophthalmus
Species:	catesbeiana, clamitans, septentrionalis, pipiens, palustris, sylvatica, americanus, fowleri, versicolor, crucifer, maculata, triseriata, crepitans, maculata, laterale, jeffersonianum, cinerus, fuscus, bilineata, scutatum, maculosus, viridescens There are 13 species of frogs and toads in Ontario and 9 species of salamanders. An example of a species name is: Rana sylvatica (Wood frog) "Rana" is the genus name and "sylvatica" is the species name. There are also several sub-species, which are denoted by a trinomial name. For example, the Red-spotted newt and the Central newt are both sub-species of the Eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens). These sub-species are named Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens, and Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis respectively. In writing, the Genus, species and sub-species names are always italicized or underlined.

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