Frogs, toads, salamanders and newts are all amphibians. Most amphibians have smooth, moist skin and live in or close to water. They hatch from eggs laid in water. They breathe and feed under water until they become adults. Their bodies change and they develop lungs, allowing them to live out of the water and breathe air. Frogs and toads lose their tails and grow legs when they become adults, but newts and salamanders simply grow larger.

Frogs have long legs. These help them make huge leaps and swim quickly. Adult frogs are carnivorous: they feed on insects, snails or worms. Larger frogs will also eat fish, other frogs and even small mammals. Frogs have small lungs. When under water, they take in oxygen through their skins. They need to keep their skins moist in order to do this.

Some small kinds of frog live in trees. They have pads on their toes that help them to grip on to leaves. A few kinds have large webbed feet. These act like tiny parachutes, which help the frogs glide between trees.

Frog spawn

Frogs lay their eggs in ponds or streams. The eggs, or spawn, look like clumps of jelly. The black “dots” are the embryos. The babies that hatch out look very different from their parents.

Four months after hatching, a young frog’s eyes have grown bigger and its mouth is much wider. Instead of plants, it feeds on tiny creatures. About a centimetre (under half an inch) long, the frog has lost its tail and is now ready for its adult life on land. It will be ready to breed itself when it is four years old.

Salamanders
and newts

Salamanders are long-bodied amphibians with long tails. They feed on insects, worms, slugs and snails. Some also prey on tadpoles. Some salamanders live in water all the time. The axolotl and the olm even keep their gills into adulthood. Many species are brightly coloured to warn predators they are poisonous. Newts are salamanders with long, flattened tails.