1.3 Amphibians and reptiles

Amphibians are vertebrates that live part of their lives in fresh water and part on land.

The skin of amphibians is moist and slimy. It has no protective covering, so amphibians stay in or near water to keep their skin moist. This is very important because if their skin dries out they die.

Amphibians have four legs. Frogs and toads have longer back legs to help them jump. They do not have a tail. Other amphibians, like salamanders have a tail and four legs of the same length.

Amphibians breathe through their skin and with their lungs.

 They reproduce by laying small eggs in the water.

The young are very different from the adults. When they grow into adults they go through a process called metamorphosis.