How to Tell Amphibians and Reptiles Apart
An easy way to distinguish between an amphibian and a reptile is to examine the animal's skin. If the animal is an amphibian or a reptile, its skin will either be:
Hard and scaly, with scutes or bony plates - Image A
Soft, smooth, or warty, possibly moist skin - Image B
If the animals skin is (A) hard and scaly, with skutes or bony plates, then the animal is a reptile.
If on the other hand the animal's skin is (B) soft, smooth, or warty and is possibly moist, then the animal is an amphibian.
Sources
- Photos © Peter Hansen (A) and Shutterstock.com (B).
- O'Shea, M. and T. Halliday. 2001. Reptiles and Amphibians. London: Dorling Kindersley.
