{"id":8168,"date":"2023-06-22T14:41:05","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T13:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neuronicdev.es\/deep-sea-world\/animal-behaviour\/amphibians-vs-reptiles-whats-the-difference\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T10:46:02","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T10:46:02","slug":"amphibians-vs-reptiles-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neuronicdev.es\/deep-sea-world\/blog\/amphibians-vs-reptiles-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Amphibians vs. Reptiles: What’s The Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"green<\/figure>\n

Amphibians and reptiles might seem similar at first glance \u2013 they\u2019re not exactly warm and fuzzy, after all. But there are many, many things that make them different from each other. Confused about which category frogs fall into, or which of the two likes a dip in the water? We\u2019re here to help clear things up for you.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll explore their differences and delve into some frequently asked questions you might be wondering about the two below.<\/p>\n

The similarities between amphibians and reptiles<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before we get onto the differences, let\u2019s take a look at how amphibians and reptiles are alike.<\/p>\n

The main similarities are that they\u2019re both cold-blooded, and they\u2019re both vertebrates, which means they have backbones. They can both also both be found on every continent \u2013 except for Antarctica, it\u2019s a bit too cold for them there!<\/p>\n

What are amphibians?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Amphibians are four-limbed vertebrates which belong to the class (a biological classification) Amphibia<\/em>. They live in a variety of different habitats, including land, trees, water and even underground \u2013 though they never stray too far from water so that can stay moist.<\/p>\n

What are some characteristics of amphibians?<\/em><\/h4>\n

Let\u2019s start with the things we can see: their appearance. Amphibians\u2019 skin tends to be moist, which stops them from drying up. A lot of amphibians have smooth skin, though many toads are covered with raised glands, which make them bumpy, and are used to produce toxic secretions \u2013 this protects them from any sneaky predators looking for food.<\/p>\n

\"tadpole\"<\/figure>\n
Their home<\/h5>\n

When they first hatch as aquatic larvae, they use their gills to breathe underwater. As they get older, they undergo a metamorphosis, developing four legs and lungs, and beginning to spend more time on land. Take frogs, for example. They begin life as tadpoles, before developing legs so they can walk around on land.<\/p>\n

Their skin<\/h5>\n

They can also breathe through their moist skin, which is described as porous \u2013 a word that means having tiny holes that let liquid (or in this case, air) pass through. This makes them very sensitive to toxins in their environment. So, if you see amphibians happily swimming around in water, then it\u2019s an indication that it\u2019s a suitable home for them \u2013 if you don\u2019t, then the water is more than likely going to be harmful to them.<\/p>\n

Their tongues and eyes<\/h5>\n

The tongues of amphibians are different from reptiles\u2019 too. Most amphibians grow an entire tongue, and it\u2019ll usually be very sticky so they can easily grab hold of nearby prey.<\/p>\n

Their eyes work differently as well. Since they live on land and in the water, their eyes have evolved to work just as well in dry and wet environments, although they can only see certain colours. They can at least identify certain shades in low light, but for the most part they generally only see in black, white and grey.<\/p>\n

Their eggs<\/h5>\n

Amphibians\u2019 eggs are jelly-like and full of gooey mucus, with a membrane on their outer layer allowing water and gas to pass through them. Once these eggs have been fertilised, they\u2019re usually laid in water.<\/p>\n

\"salamander\"<\/figure>\n

Lists of amphibians<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Some of the most common examples of amphibians include:<\/p>\n