Amphibians

 

Section Overview
Databases
Information Format
Overview of Amphibians
Description of Amphibians

 

Page Links
Inventory of Amphibian Families and Species
Glossary of AmphibianTerms

 

Section Overview

 

Twenty-nine species of amphibians, encompassing seven amphibian
families, have been identified as occurring in the general northwestern
region of Virginia (including Facquier County). While no systematic
research has been conducted in Sky Meadows State Park to identify
amphibians, all the included species are known to inhabit the general
vicinity, and anecdotal reports and first-hand observations have been
made concerning several of the species. Further research is needed to
more accurately identify amphibian species.

 

Databases

 

Two primary sources of information were used for the amphibian section.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries provided the "core"
database for most species information as well as general entry structure.
In addition, Wikipedia entries for amphibian families were used. Pictures
were primarily taken from Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries (in particular, John White), although a few pictures were taken
from Wikipedia sites.

 

Information Format

 

The information format employed by the Virginia Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries has been used for all amphibian entires. Entires
include:

 

NAME: Common and scientific names.
CHARACTERISTICS: General identiifying characteristics of each species.
DISTRIBUTION: Includes information concerning not only natural range
of a species, but also typical habitats where species can often be found.
FOOD: Typical food eaten by each species.

 

Overview of Amphibians

 

Amphibians are members of the class Amphibia. The class Amphibia
includes frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians. Amphibians
are characterized by a glandular skin without external scales, by gills
during development (and in adulthood in some), and by eggs that may
have jelly coats. Most amphibians also have four limbs. Limbs and lungs
are adaptations for life on land; the limbs evolved from the ancestral
fishes' lobed fins. The scales and amniote egg evolved by reptiles are
further adaptations for life on land and distinguish reptiles from
amphibians.

 

Amphibians are ecological indicators, and in recent decades there has
been a dramatic decline in amphibian populations around the globe.
Many species are now threatened or extinct.

 

Description of Amphibians

 

Amphibians such as frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians,
are cold-blooded animals that metamorphose from a juvenile water-
breathing form, to an adult air-breathing form. Though amphibians
typically have four limbs, the Caecilians are notable for being limbless.
Unlike other land vertebrates, amphibians lay eggs in water. Amphibians
are superficially similar to reptiles.

 

 

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