Amphibians

Amphibians occupy a unique place in the animal kingdom, living a double life that begins in water and, for most species, continues on land. Frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians typically hatch from eggs laid in water, undergo metamorphosis, and emerge as air-breathing adults — a life cycle that has remained largely unchanged since amphibians became the first vertebrates to walk on land more than 350 million years ago.

Their permeable skin, which allows many species to absorb water and oxygen directly from their environment, makes amphibians remarkably sensitive to changes in habitat quality, pollution, and climate — which is why scientists often consider them an early warning sign for ecosystem health. Species range from the brightly colored, toxic golden poison frog to giants like the goliath frog, and from fully aquatic axolotls to burrowing caecilians most people never see.

Below you'll find profiles covering the habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation status of amphibian species from around the world. Each entry includes physical traits and taxonomy, along with answers to the questions people ask most often about how these animals live, breed, and survive.