AMPHIBIAN ADAPTATIONS
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BODY PART

STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION

REASON

body

small waist
no neck
broad, flat skull

- streamlined body shape for swimming - no movement of head is beneficial during swimming - easier to swim through water; holds prey

skin

thin and moist

- allows for gaseous exchange (cutaneous respiration) - allows for water exchange (osmosis)

front legs and feet

short, with 5 toes

- used to keep the front part of the body off the bottom or ground

hind legs and feet

long, powerful, with 5 toes

- able to jump great distances, and change direction quickly - webbed toes aid in swimming

colour

upper body green with many spots
light under belly

upper body green with many spots - it conceals the frog in its natural habitat; it also forms a disruptive colour pattern which tends to obscure the shape of the frog light under belly - where there is normally a shadow, it reduces the appearance of solidity or mass when viewed from the side or underneath

eyes

positioned on top of head
lower eyelid transparent
large and bulging

positioned on top of head - it gives the frog a wide angled visual field; allows frog to remain in water with only part of head exposed lower eyelid transparent - able to see under water large and bulging - aid in swallowing; - detect movement and velocity of an object

ears

a flat disk-like tympanic membrane

- streamlines the body, prevents water from entering ear canal

mouth

very large and broad

- able to catch and eat large prey

tongue

attached at front of mouth
long and sticky

attached at front of mouth - enables it to be flicked out quickly long and sticky - prey sticks to it when caught

eggs

laid in masses
sticky
gelatinous covering

laid in masses - eggs on the outside protect the eggs on the inside sticky - adhere to plants, so they are not carried away coated in gelatinous covering - protection from mechanical injury, infections and disease, and dehydration; - it conserves heat produced by metabolism of the embryo