Animals are one of the greatest attractions that children can find since, especially for the little ones, discovering the variety and richness of the animal world is one of the most interesting and satisfying experiences they can have in childhood. For this, it is very interesting to know how to distinguish the different types of animals that exist, as well as the characteristics that are specific to each group. One of the cases where this differentiation is more complicated is that between reptiles and amphibians, since many children perceive that, at first glance, they are very similar to each other. If you want to know the difference between reptiles and amphibians and know the explanation for children, keep reading Green Ecology and we will tell you about it.
Why is it difficult to tell the difference between amphibians and reptiles?
It must be borne in mind that, when it comes to differentiating between amphibians and reptiles, it is normal to become confused since, at first glance, it is two types of animals that have many similarities. On the one hand, they are animals with a similar appearance, even in the colors of their own body, since many of them have greenish and brown tones, which makes them appear closer than they are. On the other hand, when we think of amphibians, one of the classic definitions of this group of animals is that they are animals that live both in water and on land. However, this definition could also be applied to many reptiles, which means that the dividing line between them cannot be established solely by the environment in which they live and develop.
In addition, if all the above were not enough, both types of animals reproduce through eggs, which makes it not seem easy to distinguish them by the way of reproduction. However, despite this, it is in the way of reproducing where we are going to find the first differences between one and the other.
How do reptiles and amphibians reproduce?
As we have seen, both reproduce by means of eggs. Despite this, there are substantial differences between amphibian and reptile eggs, which will give us a first idea of what characteristics make them unique and differentiate them from the others:
- The reptile eggs They are eggs that pose a hard and waterproof shell, very similar to the eggs that can be found in the kingdom of birds.
- On the contrary, amphibians have soft eggs and lacking a hard shell to waterproof them, which makes their eggs look much more like fish eggs
In fact, the difference is such that reptiles are called amniotes, that is, their embryos have a membrane that protects them during their development. On the contrary, animals that do not have this protective membrane, such as amphibians and fish, are called anamniotes, that is, without a membrane.
In addition, beyond the type of eggs that one and the other lay, another factor that differentiates amphibians and reptiles in the field of their reproduction We find it in fertilization:
- In the case of reptilesAll of them have internal fertilization, that is, the male must deposit the semen inside the female for fertilization to occur.
- On the contrary, in the case of amphibians, We find both internal and external fertilization, that is, what happens when the females release the eggs into the water and, later, the males release the sperm on them for fertilization to occur.
Amphibian and reptile characteristics
However, differences between amphibians and reptiles they go beyond the reproductive characteristics of each other. First of all, one of the easiest differences to observe is going to be found in its skin:
- In the case of amphibiansThese have a moist, very soft and permeable skin.
- Conversely, the reptiles They are characterized by having a skin formed from keratin scales, which is a substance present in many animals and which forms solid and resistant tissues, such as part of the nails and hair of mammals, including humans.
Likewise, another of the great differences between amphibians and reptiles we will find it in your young:
- Once they hatch from the egg, the hatchlings the reptiles they are fully formed. That is, despite their small size, they have fully formed bodies that will gradually grow into adults.
- On the contrary, the offspring of amphibiansAt birth, they will not have an adult body, but must go through different metamorphoses until they complete their biological cycle. A good example is found in frogs, which will be born as tadpoles, without back or front legs and with a tail. After several metamorphoses, it will be when they develop their legs and lose their tails, which will allow them to become adult frogs.
Finally, another of the characteristics that differentiates amphibians and reptiles we find it in its form breathing:
- In the case of the reptilesAll of them, and throughout their life cycle, will have only pulmonary respiration, adapted to life on land and to the oxygen present in the air.
- Conversely, amphibians They will go through different phases of breathing. In the case of the youngest hatchlings, they will have gill respiration, just like fish and adapted to life in the water. On the contrary, it is only when they are adults that they will develop the pulmonary respiration typical of land animals, and despite this, they will retain their skin respiration throughout their lives, which will allow them to take oxygen through the skin. in addition to doing it through the lungs.
In this other Green Ecologist article we show more about the Characteristics of reptiles and in this other one, about Which animals are amphibians and where they are found.
If you want to read more articles similar to Difference between reptiles and amphibians for kids, we recommend that you enter our Wild Animals category.
