Amphibian Biology

Question 1

Lissamphibia groups and common names

Answer 1

anura = frogs
caudata = salamanders (urodela = order)
gymnophiona = caecilians

Question 2

6 features of extant amphibians (name 3)

Answer 2

2 sensory papilla in the inner ear
2 channels to transmit sound waves to the inner ear
green rods (caecilians dont have , allow for color based rod vision)
pedicellate tooth
mucous and poison/granular glands
levator bulbi muscle (not as prominent in caecilians)

Question 3

lungless amphibians

Answer 3

salamander family Plethodontidae (depend entirely on cutaneous respiration)

Question 4

salamander locomotion

Answer 4

generalized

lateral undulations

Question 5

caecilian locomotion

Answer 5

no limbs or girdles

move by hydrostatic locomotion

Question 6

what does fossorial mean?

Answer 6

burrowing animal

Question 7

frog locomotion

Answer 7

saltatory locomotion (jumping)
only jump forwards

Question 8

urostyle

Answer 8

rod like structure found in anura formed from fusion of postsacral vertebrae

Question 9

what purposes do the pectoral and pelvic girdles serve in saltatory locomotion

Answer 9

pectoral - absorb shock of landing

pelvic - brace hindlimbs for jumping

Question 10

anuran adaptations for living in trees

Answer 10

long limbs

digits with large terminal adhesive pads

Question 11

anuran adaptations for burrowing

Answer 11

short sturdy limbs

large tubercules made of keration on their feet

Question 12

skeletal support of tongue

Answer 12

provided by the hyoid apparatus

hyoid not involved in frogs but is involved in salamanders to protrude tongue

Question 13

T/F caecilians engage in tongue protrusion

Answer 13

F

Question 14

triphasic salamander

Answer 14

newts; aquatic larval form, 2 adult phases (1st = terrestrial, second = aquatic)

Question 15

juveniles to adults lissamphibia

Answer 15

salamanders and caecilians change very little (basically minature adults to fully grown adults)
however frogs change a lot from the juvenile to adult stages