US states choose symbols to represent their locality, including a state amphibian, which is submitted to the state legislative body for approval. Amphibians are cold-blooded animals that depend on sunlight and water to regulate their body temperature. Choosing a state amphibian allows children to learn about the animal and the legislative process. Conservation efforts are […]
Amphibians evolved from lobe-finned fishes and primitive tetrapods about 340 million years ago. Early tetrapods lacked amphibian characteristics and are classified as basal tetrapods. The earliest amphibians were temnospondyls, which grew in size and diversity during the Carboniferous Period. Lissamphibians, the group that includes all modern amphibians, emerged about 9 million years ago. Amphibians are […]
Amphibians evolved from lobe-finned fishes 365 million years ago and once had three subclasses, but only lissamphibians survive today. Frogs and toads are the most successful group with 5,453 species. The common ancestor of lissamphibia lived about 290 million years ago, and the discovery of the Gerobatrachus fossil showed that modern amphibians are descended from […]
