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The word amphibian comes from the Greek word for “double-life,” referring to the fact that amphibians start life in water breathing through gills before maturing into lung-breathing land animals, although most never stray too far from water. The class Amphibia is composed of only 3 orders. Anura, which refers to tailless amphibians, includes frogs and toads (see Amphibians: Similarities and Differences Between Frogs and Toads ). This is the largest order with more than 3,500 species. Caudata refers to amphibians with tails—salamanders, newts, and sirens—and has about 375 species (see Amphibians: Some Common Salamanders and Newts). The Gymnophiona order is made up of caecilians, legless, tailless amphibians that spend most of their time burrowing. It has about 160 species.
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| Similarities and Differences Between Frogs and Toads |
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Similarities
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Differences
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Frogs
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Toads
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Both hatch from eggs
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Lay eggs in clusters
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Lay eggs in chains
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Young have gills
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Teeth in upper jaw
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Have no teeth
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Adults have lungs
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Moist, smooth skin
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Dry, lumpy skin
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Young live in water
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Jump
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Walk
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Bulging eyes
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Eyes do not protrude
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| Some Common Salamanders and Newts |
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Type
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Location
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Size
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Tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
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Western-central Canada south to Mexico and east and north to Long Island New York; sandy soils; common as pets
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Varies according to type; can be up to 12 inches (31 centimeters)
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Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum)
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Native to Xochimilco and Chalco lakes, Mexico City; strictly aquatic; common as pets
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8 to 11 inches (20 to 28 centimeters)
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Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
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From southern New England, west to parts of Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, and south to north Florida; variety of habitats
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Up to 4.25 inches (11 centimeters) in length
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Redback salamander (Plethodon cynereus)
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Canada, northern United States to Midwest; woodland
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Small: 2.6 to 4.9 inches (6.5 to 12.5 centimeters)
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Seal salamander (Desmognathus monticola)
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Southwestern Pennsylvania, to Georgia and Alabama; streams, ravines, and similar habitat
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Size varies
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Blackbelly and shovelnose salamanders (Desmognathus quadramaculatus, D. marmoratus)
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Appalachia; springs and streams
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Medium to large
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Two-lined and Junaluska salamanders (Eurycea bislineata, E. junaluska)
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Eastern half of North America
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Small: up to 4.7 inches (12 centimeters)
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Eastern or red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)
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Eastern half of North America, southern Canada, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida; watery areas
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Varies
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California newt (Taricha torosa)
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California, west coast of United States
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Up to 8 inches (20 centimeters)
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Rough-skinned Oregon newt (Taricha granulosa)
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Coastal Pacific northwest from southeast Alaska to San Francisco, California; aquatic or woodlands
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5 to 8.5 inches (13 to 22 centimeters)
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Fire-bellied newt (Cynops pyrrhogastea)
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China and Japan; however, they are commonly bred and kept as pets
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Varies; generally from 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 centimeters)
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Last full review/revision July 2011 by Brent R. Whitaker, MS, DVM
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