There are more than 8,100 types of amphibians in the world. Amphibians animals can be split into three categories to help us understand them. Some examples of amphibians include:
- Frogs and Toads
Frogs and toads are some of the most common amphibians in the UK. Where you can find woodlands, ponds, and marshes, you will probably find some amphibians too!
The most giant frog in the world is the Goliath frog, found in West Africa. It can grow to 32cm in length. On the other hand, the smallest frog in the world has recently been discovered in Madagascar. It reaches 8-10mm in length – or the size of a staple!
Here is a small list of amphibians that are frogs:
- Bull Frogs
- Tree Frogs
- Red-Eyed Tree Frogs
Additionally, types of toads include:
- Fire-Belly Toads
- Spadefoot Toads
- Salamanders and Newts
Salamander is the name for amphibians with tails when fully grown. It means that a newt is a type of salamander you can find in the UK. Other kinds of salamanders are located across the northern hemisphere. It includes North America, Main America, Europe, and mainland Asia.
Some salamanders keep their gills as they grow into adults, which means they can breathe underwater all their life. Others lose their gills and expand their lungs, meaning they have to move on land from their water home. Many salamanders don’t have gills or lungs! These amphibians breathe through their skin and live on land as adults.
The amphibians animals list below shows different types of Salamander and Newts:
- Mud Newts
- Red Eft Newts
- Wood Newts
- Tiger Salamanders
- Caecilians (se-sill-yen)
Caecilians are tropical amphibians. They are limbless, meaning they do not have any arms or legs. Caecilians can look a bit like worms or snakes, but they are from a completely different animal family. Remember, worms and snakes are not amphibians!
The word caecilian comes from Latin and means “blind one.” It is because caecilians have tiny eyes or eyes covered by their skin – helping them live in their preferred underground environment.
These amphibians can grow to nearly 5ft in length!
Here is a small list of amphibians that are caecilians:
- Scolecomorphus
- Ichthyophis
- Siphonopidae
- Rhinatrema
This amphibians list and the other lists above show common amphibians people come across. There are many more types of amphibians, so keep an eye out next time you are at your local pond or wood land!
