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The word amphibian is derived from the Ancient Greek term ἀμφίβιος (amphíbios), which means 'both kinds of life', ἀμφί meaning 'of both kinds' and βίος meaning 'life'. The term was initially used as a general adjective for animals that could live on land or in water, including seals and otters. [8]
The word armadillo means ' little armored one ' in Spanish; [2] [3] it is derived from armadura ' armor ', with the diminutive suffix -illo attached. While the phrase little armored one would translate to armadito normally, the suffix -illo can be used in place of -ito when the diminutive is used in an approximative tense. [4]
The only amphibians to bear claws are the African clawed frogs. Claws evolved separately in the amphibian and amniote (reptiliomorph) line. [12] However, the hairy frog has claw analogues on its feet; the frog intentionally dislocates the tips of its fingers to unsheathe the sharp points of its last phalanges.
Amphibamus is a genus of amphibamid temnospondyl amphibians from the Carboniferous (middle Pennsylvanian) of North America. [1] [2] [3] This animal is considered to have been close to the ancestry of modern amphibians. Its length was about 20 centimetres (7.9 in). [4]
Little is known about the longevity of frogs and toads in the wild, but some can live for many years. Skeletochronology is a method of examining bones to determine age. Using this method, the ages of mountain yellow-legged frogs ( Rana muscosa ) were studied, the phalanges of the toes showing seasonal lines where growth slows in winter.
The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) is the smallest species of armadillo, first described by Richard Harlan in 1825. [3] The pink fairy armadillo is 90–115 mm (3.5–4.5 in) long, and typically weighs about 120 g (4.2 oz).
It has a triangular head, a fairly robust cylindrical body, a little flattened dorsoventrally in the posterior region; short and conical tail. The eyes are small; The scales are wide and smooth, all similar except for a slightly elongated ventral row. They have vestiges of a pelvic girdle and a claw-shaped structure like in boids.
The jaw of a mudpuppy also plays a significant role in its diet. The mudpuppy jaw is considered metaautostyly, like most amphibians, meaning the jaw is more stable and that the salamander has a dentary. [15] This affects their diet by limiting the flexibility of the jaw to take in larger prey.