Question

b) Although amphibians have permeable skin and lack an amniotic egg, there are species which inhabit very dry places. How do they survive and prevent dehydration? Give 3 examples of species which do not use ponds/pools for reproduction and describe how they keep the eggs, larvae moist.

Answer 1

There are many species of amphibians have developed adaptations to survive at very dry environmental conditions. Species of frogs and toads are most common among these amphibians. During the dry season after rainy season, these frogs bury themselves underground and shed several layers of skin and make it rough and thick. This abnormal skin helps them to tolerate and survive at dry environmental conditions. Also this skin helps them to store water till next rainy season. The tiny hole near nostrills in the skin allows them to breath slowly waiting out the next rainy period. They utilize the rainy period for their breeding and laying eggs. The best examples of such species are:

Litoria platycephala

Pyxicephalus adspersus

Spea bombifrons