Both reptiles and amphibians are two types of the animal kingdom, specifically the vertebrate kingdom, being similar animals but at the same time different animals.
Many times some amphibians are often confused with some reptiles and some reptiles with some amphibians due to some similarities and similar kinship.
However, there are some key differences between reptiles and amphibians that if you know them, you will be able to know unequivocally if the animal in which you have doubts about them, are reptiles or amphibians for sure.
These differences can be known simply if you are a little observant, a little clever and if you know the flora and fauna in a basic way, since many of the differences that we are going to explain here are noticeable to the naked eye.
Knowing the differences between reptiles and amphibians will also allow you to acquire knowledge to impress other people by showing that you have a great deal of general knowledge and that you are a wise and educated person.
For all these reasons, this article is going to explain in detail some significant difference between reptiles and amphibians, so that in this way you can never get confused again if you have any doubts of this type.
What do you need to differentiate reptiles from amphibians?
- A little knowledge about flora and fauna.
Instructions to differentiate reptiles from amphibians
- Habitat: The first thing is to know where each species lives, being the most obvious difference and the easiest to see of all the differences between reptiles and amphibians. The word amphibian itself says that they live both in water and on land, needing to be in contact with water at times to avoid problems. On the other hand, reptiles, although they like to live in water and are usually near humid places, do not need to live in water and really live on land even if they are seen near water, such as crocodiles.
- Metamorphosis: Another key difference between the two is metamorphosis, which exists only in the amphibian species, being missing in the reptile species. Metamorphosis consists of a radical change in physical and behavioral characteristics in amphibians, marking the transition from childhood to adulthood. A good example is frogs, which when they are not developed are tadpoles, which are black, have a tail and live in water, something totally opposite to frogs. On the other hand, in the case of reptiles, they do not have any type of transformation, being exactly the same in appearance when they are young than when they are adults, the only difference being their size, being an evolutionary characteristic showing that it is not necessary for them to have to perform a metamorphosis to grow.
- The skin: With the exception of some species of amphibians such as toads, amphibians usually have much more humid skin than the skin of reptiles, which, living in water, usually have moist skin as a means to be able to adapt from one to another. More correctly to the aquatic environment in which they live. In addition, the skin of amphibians is usually protected by a kind of mucous membrane that protects them from the outside environment.
Tips to differentiate reptiles from amphibians
- Some examples of reptiles: For a greater distinction of the same, some species of reptiles should be explained, so that when you see those species, you know specifically that that species of animal is a reptile. We have the turtles, which have a large shell and are very slow; we have the dangerous crocodiles, which are one of the great predators of the modern world. If I continue naming species, we have lizards, lizards, which have variable sizes, exotic chameleons, snakes, which have no legs and many more.
- Some examples of amphibians: Now we have to name the amphibians, which also have a lot of species as an example, which you should know specifically what they are and what animal they are. We have the famous frogs, small and with very long and strong legs, then we have the toads, which are chubby, smell bad and usually have drier skin than normal for a reptile. Then we have salamanders and newts, which are the least known amphibian species in the world, but they are also.
- Similarities: Reptiles and amphibians also have many similarities with each other, among the most important we can highlight that both lay eggs, that both are vertebrate chordate animals, that both species are cold-blooded and that with exceptions such as crocodiles, they have the same type of heart of three spaces.
