amphibian
A cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that comprises frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders, distinguished by having an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage.
Strictly refers to members of the class Amphibia; informally used to describe anything that operates on both land and water.
Commonly confused with
- reptile: Reptiles have scales, clawed toes, and lay amniotic eggs on land, whereas amphibians have moist, scale-less skin, webbed feet, and must lay jelly-like eggs in water.
Word family
- amphibians (noun): Plural form of amphibian.
- amphibious (adjective): Suited for both land and water.
Collocations
- amphibian species
- amphibian decline
- aquatic amphibian
- amphibian metamorphosis
Example sentences
- "Because their skin is highly permeable, every amphibian is extremely sensitive to chemical pollutants in the water." A conservation report on global biodiversity.
- "The transition of the amphibian from a water-breathing tadpole to a land-breathing frog is one of nature's great wonders." A classic biological study on metamorphosis.
Memory hook
Think of 'amphi' (like an amphitheater, which is a double-sided theater) and 'bio' (life). An amphibian leads a 'double life' in water and on land. Double-life creature.
When not to use
Do not confuse with reptiles (like turtles or crocodiles) which are dry-skinned, lay hard-shelled eggs, and do not have a gill-breathing larval stage.
Fun facts
- Some amphibians, like the axolotl, exhibit 'neoteny'—they never undergo complete metamorphosis and keep their larval gills and aquatic lifestyle for their entire lives.
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