How To Distiguish Between Reptiles and Amphibians

Tail or No Tail?

All the Difference Between Salamanders and Toads

So now let's consider what you do if you have determined that your animal is an amphibian (due to its soft, smooth, or warty, possibly moist skin) and it has legs. Instead of looking at legs, now we're going to look at tails.

There are only two possibilities:

Has a tail - Image A

Does not have a tail - Image B

If the animal (A) has a tail, then it's a salamander or newt. If the animal (B) does not have a tail, then it's either a frog or a toad.

Classification

If the animal is a salamander or newt, then it has the following classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)
• Class: Amphibia (amphibians)
• Order: Caudata (salamanders and newts)

If the animal is frog or a toad, then we can still examine it further to place it in the correct group.

Sources

• Photos © Patrick Coin (A) and Irina V. Mullova (B).
• O'Shea, M. and T. Halliday. 2001. Reptiles and Amphibians. London: Dorling Kindersley.

Index: How To Distiguish Between Reptiles and Amphibians

1. Getting Started
2. Amphibian or Reptile?
3. Legs or No Legs?
4. Legs or No Legs?
5. Tail or No Tail?
6. Warts or No Warts?