group amphibians typically characterized like appearance slender bodies blunt short limbs projecting right angles body presence tail larvae adults present day families grouped scientific diversity abundant species found species present zone toes legs rear legs species fewer lack hind limbs skin usually makes reliant habitats near water cool damp places species fully aquatic lives water intermittently entirely terrestrial adults unique capable lost limbs damaged parts bodies members family known lack grooves sides bodies typical groups skin species contains powerful poison tend slow moving bright warning coloration advertise typically lay eggs water aquatic larvae great variation occurs species harsh environments reproduce state literature legend associated fire supposedly unharmed flames clothes skins wool believed said intensely poisonous despite drink prepared live fruit reputed properties ability lost body parts investigated research ongoing applications human medicine description skin lacks scales moist smooth touch skin wet touch skin brightly colored exhibiting patterns stripes bars spots dots male dramatically colored breeding season cave species dwelling darkness lack translucent pink appearance range size minute total length including tail chinese giant reaches weighs length trunk limbs tail adult generally resembles small having basal body form cylindrical trunk limbs long tail family head body tail number vertical depressions surface run mid dorsal region ventral area known grooves function help skin moist water surface body aquatic species reduced absent hind limbs giving like appearance species rear limbs length project barely raising trunk ground feet broad short usually feet rear claws shape foot varies according animal habitat climbing species elongated square tipped toes rock larger feet short blunt toes tree climbing plate like feet adhere smooth surfaces rock climbing species california feet short use tails extra limb ascending tail props rear body hind foot moves forward swings provide support hind foot advances larvae aquatic tail flattened dorsal ventral fins propel animal water families male tail larger female embrace propel mating couple location terrestrial species tail moves animal runs tree climbing species tail certain jump help launch air tail courtship storage organ proteins functions defense predation attacker grabbed unlike frogs adult able limbs tail lost skin skin common amphibians thin water serves respiratory membrane supplied highly outer layers renewed periodically skin process controlled skin initially breaks mouth animal moves forwards gap shed skin limbs worked clear series body pushes skin rear hind limbs extracted push skin farther eventually freed friction moves forward tail pressed ground animal eats resulting skin skin discharge keeps skin moist important factor skin sticky layer helps protect reduces friction swimming makes animal slippery difficult predators catch scattered upper surface particularly head tail produce toxic particularly potent rough skinned produces toxic substance known handling harm minute fragment skin deadly feeding trials fish frogs reptiles birds mammals found susceptible mature adults species tissue base tails heads females release chemical substances possibly ventral attract males males use purpose males conspicuous mental chin pressed females nostrils courtship ritual function speed mating process reducing risk disrupted predator rival male base tail mark territorial ownership senses plays role territory maintenance recognition predators courtship rituals probably secondary sight prey selection feeding types sensory areas respond chemistry environment nasal cavity picks airborne aquatic adjoining organs detect chemical cues tastes mouth sensory organs extends grooves stretch nostrils corners mouth extended areas associated identification prey items recognition identification individuals eyes adapted primarily vision night permanently aquatic species reduced size simplified structure cave georgia blind absent covered layer skin amphibious species eyes compromise air water fully terrestrial species fire lens focus wider range distances find prey use color vision extending range based types sensitive larvae adults highly aquatic species lateral line organ similar fish detect changes water pressure lack middle ear cavity tube system like frogs able detect airborne sound system consists equivalent higher fused skull muscle connects pectoral kept tension animal alert system able detect low frequency vibrations picked ground fore limbs transmitted inner ear serve warn animal approaching predator usually considered voice use sound communication way frogs species quiet noises opening closing nose california giant produce bark species contracting muscles throat different mechanism eyes head forcing air mouth occasionally makes sound produce quiet resort faint attacked little studied purpose sounds presumed startling predators differs different species involve gills lungs skin membranes mouth throat breathe primarily means gills usually external appearance water drawn mouth flows gill slits species retain gills lives species lose embryos terrestrial undergo direct development large gills lie close egg surface present adult lungs vary greatly different species size structure aquatic cold water species like southern lungs small smooth walls species living warm water little dissolved oxygen lesser large lungs convoluted surfaces terrestrial family lungs gills present gas exchange takes place skin supplemented tissues lining mouth facilitate dense network blood vessels skin mouth incomplete retain pair gill slits adults fully functioning internal gills species lack lungs gills cases external gills visible head terrestrial lungs simple sac like unlike complex organs found mammals species lungs gills adults feeding diet predators generally restricted specific foods feed organism reasonable size large species japanese giant eat crabs fish small mammals amphibians aquatic insects study smaller diet included flies beetles beetle larvae spiders takes place especially resources short time limited tiger pools resort eating seemingly able target unrelated individuals adult prey adults young species larvae smaller larvae species small teeth upper lower jaws unlike frogs larvae possess teeth teeth shaped like pointed teeth adults adapted enable readily grasp prey crown attached fibers joint formed partially flexible bend inward outward struggling prey advanced mouth teeth tips relax bend direction encouraging movement throat resisting prey escape patches teeth attached bones roof mouth help retain prey types teeth replaced intervals animal life terrestrial catches prey sticky tongue action takes half second species tongue attached floor mouth mounted rendered sticky tip roof mouth high speed cinematography shows tiger positions snout close prey mouth widely lower jaw remains stationary tongue changes shape shoots forward tongue central depression rim collapses inward target struck trapping prey laden trough held animal neck tongue retracted jaws closed large resistant prey retained teeth repeated tongue draw involves alternate muscles throat assisted depression roof mouth family elaborate feeding methods muscles surrounding bone contract store elastic energy tissue actually shoot bone mouth tongue muscles originate pelvic region insert tongue reel tongue original positions aquatic lacks muscles tongue captures prey entirely different manner grabs food item teeth adopts kind feeding involves head drawing water sharply mouth snapping jaws tend tear prey frequently feeding slow moving animals like worms unique having developed like jaw ends extensive feed algae soft plants wild easily eat offered defense thin skins soft bodies slowly sight appear vulnerable predation effective lines defense coating damp skin makes difficult grasp coating offensive taste toxic attacked predator position main poison face tail turned arched animal sacrifice tail worthwhile strategy escapes life predator learns avoid species future skin tiger fed rats shown produce flavor rats avoided medium offered fire ridge large spine able fine jet toxic fluid attacker body appropriately accurately direct spray distance method skin poisonous fluid time sharply pointed ribs angle adopts inflated posture action causes ribs body wall rib protruding orange arranged lateral row provide signal makes spines visible danger passed ribs skin camouflage cryptic colors signal vivid coloring yellow orange red colors generally black greater contrast animal attacked revealing flash warning underside red brightly colored terrestrial juvenile form eastern highly poisonous avoided birds snakes survive minutes later red species similar coloring red predators previously fed shown avoid encountering red example species exhibit similar california yellow eyed closely resembles toxic california rough skinned parts range colored exists species habits relatively harmless species like california slender nocturnal eaten snakes california large poison skin avoided snakes species use tail escape predators tail drops attack runs away stays noticed predator distracted tail time routinely complex tissues including lens eye weeks losing piece limb perfectly reforms missing structure distribution habitat split amphibians mid- late initially similar modern members resemblance result common retention primitive body plan closely related mammals nearest relatives frogs earliest known fossils found geological deposits china dated middle period million years ago found regions reaching south south_america extend north arctic tree line northernmost asian species occurring forests northerly species north_america reaching farther north alaska panhandle exclusively distribution invaded south_america central_america probably start early million years ago lived early confirmed discovery found trapped amber dominican_republic possible fossils found australian sites living species known species found north_america highest concentration found region thought originated mountain streams vegetation zones proximity water greater importance altitude species adopted terrestrial mode life able disperse northern wide range occupies habitat similar southern gray restricted slightly cooler conditions north facing cove forests southern higher elevations perfectly able inhabit locations unknown factor prevent species existing reproduction development vocal species sexes look alike use cues identify potential mates sexual selection occur play important process produced abdominal males skin sexes males seen investigating potential mates males sexually display females visual cues thought important species species internal male typically deposits ground water according species female picks vent sperm supported conical gelatinous base elaborate courtship behavior involved deposition collection inside chambers roof stored lengthy periods eggs laid primitive giant external occurs instead species male releases sperm egg mass reproductive process similar typical frogs different types egg deposition occur spawn large numbers small eggs quiet ponds large predators unlikely pacific giant lay smaller medium sized eggs concealed site flowing water usually guarded adult normally female tropical climbing lay small number large eggs land hidden spot guarded mother species fire female retaining eggs inside body hatch larvae deposited water body fully formed juveniles temperate regions reproduction usually seasonal migrate breeding grounds males usually arrive instances set territories typically stage follows organism fully aquatic pairs external gills long body flattened tail dorsal ventral fins species limb limbs pond type larvae pair rod like head long gill broad fins stream type larvae slender short gill narrower fins instead hind limbs developed hatch stage days years depending species stage completely bypassed eggs develop directly miniature versions adult intervening stage end stage limbs takes place normally occurs short period time involves closing gill slits loss structures gills tail fins required adults time develop mouth wider tongue appears teeth formed emerges land terrestrial adult species follow path known observed families universally possible species state individual retain gills juvenile features attaining reproductive maturity changes place control tissues seemingly species changes triggered mechanism occur conditions terrestrial environment cold wildly fluctuating temperatures lack food lack cover insufficient formation play larvae tiger example develop limbs soon hatching seasonal pools promptly undergo larvae especially permanent pools warmer climates undergo fully adult size populations colder climates sexually mature forms allows species survive terrestrial environment harsh adults thrive land conservation general decline living species linked fungal disease higher proportion species frogs risk categories established iucn showed significant numbers decades 20th century direct link fungus population decline found iucn efforts established subsequently followed finally umbrella organization known researchers cite resulting suitable habitats climate change possible factors species abundant cloud forests guatemala mexico 1970s found rare data gathered population sizes years intensive surveying historic suitable new locations possible locate individuals species thought extinct currently major lines defense conservation includes conservation methods efforts place certain members family conservation breeding program important note research ahead time determine species actually going value researchers noted species amphibians completely fail environment conservation initiatives attempted world chinese giant largest world critically endangered collected food use traditional chinese medicine environmental education programme undertaken encourage sustainable management wild populations captive breeding programmes set large long lived species numbers fewer juveniles reaching maturity previously finding increase population arkansas watershed habitat loss streams pollution disease implicated decline captive breeding programme saint louis zoo successfully established species minute mexico half believed extinct critically endangered specific reasons decline include climate change volcanic activity main threat habitat destruction logging agricultural activities human settlement reduce tiny fragmented ranges survey work undertaken assess status better understand factors involved population declines view taking action aquatic species protected conservation wildlife april number factors work preservation conservation methods profound factors waters endemic severely found wild research exotic animal sells black market detrimental factor lost role predator introduction locally exotic species directly compete consuming eggs larvae juveniles climate change immensely affected populations southern mexico area proximity mexico_city officials currently working programs lake bring tourism educate local population restoration natural habitat creatures proximity large factor impacted survival city expanded region order use resources water provision sewage benefit raised farms purpose research facilities chance able return natural habitat recent decline population substantially impacted genetic diversity populations making difficult progress scientifically important note level limited genetic diversity populations species account overall lack diversity evidence points historical contributes variation issues unfortunately large genetic pool species pull unlike historical times severe concern lack gene flow way researchers looking maintaining genetic diversity population male safe non invasive method requires collection places deep freeze preservation importantly found limited damage viable option method save numerous members family research environmental cues replicated captive animals persuaded breed common species tiger given stimulate production sperm eggs role courtship behaviour investigated line research artificial females results research captive breeding programmes endangered species taxonomy disagreement exists different authorities definition terms maintain restricted crown group total group restrict crown group use total group approach widely adopted article families belonging divided clade separate phylogeny evolution origins evolutionary relationships main groups amphibians matter debate molecular phylogeny based analysis suggested divergence groups took place soon branched lobe fish million years ago breakup period speed radiation took place help account relative fossils appear closely related recent studies generally found recent late age divergence known fossil species apparently aquatic england similar date looked like robust modern lacked number features developed later upper resembled modern mole morphology probably similar lifestyle primitive known advanced believed sister groups appeared end exemplified upper cretaceous living families probably appeared position disputed position shown considered explain data best human society myth legend legends developed centuries related fire connection likely originates tendency inside rotting logs placed fire attempt escape log lending belief created flames mythical ruler supposedly hair emperor india possessed suit thousand skins pope valued highly wrote cloth said toxic tree poison fruit kill ate falling kill drank association fire appeared elder writes natural history cold puts fire contact mouth liquid liquid touches human body causes hair fall skin change color break ability fire repeated fifth century seventh century teachings orders elements ruling spirits earth spirits spirits japanese giant subject legend artwork japan work known japanese mythological creature known inspired plays key role children book chapter miracle eponymous heroine slips water tips limb regeneration applied humans limb regeneration long focus interest scientists researchers trying find conditions required growth new limbs hope regeneration replicated humans stem cells research genetically engineered protein present cells leg enabling cell division process tracked microscope loss limb cells draw form known appears cells originated skin later develop new skin muscle cells new muscle cells new cells beneath surface skin able develop type cell researchers found removed lost ability instead formed tissue processes involved forming new tissue reverse engineered humans possible heal injuries spinal cord brain repair damaged organs reduce surgery article weekly magazine publicized liquor supposedly indigenous said combine effects putting live barrel fruit stimulated alcohol toxic defense eventually die causing present said cause extreme sexual later research different picture appears traditionally seen caused ill 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