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Fig. 1 Ichthyostega (earliest known tetrapods)

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Tetrapods are a name that we have given to anything with four feet (tetra=four, pod=feet).  This group includes all the organisms (living and extinct) that descended from the last common ancestor of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.

Reference: The Origin of Tetrapods. (n.d.). Understanding Evolution. Retrieved September 21, 2021, from https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evograms_04

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Before tetrapods existed, vertebrates were all confined to living in aquatic habitats. The tetrapods began their conquest of land in the Paleozoic period.

Reference: Maclennan, S. (2017, October 12). Tracing the tetrapods. Tracing the Tetrapods. https://www.grocotts.co.za/2017/10/12/tracing-the-tetrapods/

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Devonian Period (Age of Fish, 395 million years ago)

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Devonian Period (Age of Fish, 395 million years ago)

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These first tetrapods were amphibians and they evolved from lobe-finned fish named sarcopterygians (class Sarcopterygii, “flesh fins”) within which we find the coelacanth and the current lungfish.

Reference: Bosch, D. L. (2016, April 2). The evolution of amphibians: the conquest of the land. All you need is Biology. https://allyouneedisbiology.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/evolution-amphibians/

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Darwin's Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor: the birds and the bananas, the fishes and the flowers -- all related.

Reference: Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution. (n.d.). Discover. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/

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Theories of Evolution - Charles Darwin and Natural Selection - GCSE Biology

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Fig 4. Eucritta, Crassigyrinus, and Greererpeton

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Early Carboniferous Period (Age of Amphibians)

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Early Carboniferous Period (Age of Amphibians)

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Widespread distribution of tetrapods (Eucritta, Crassigyrinus, and Greererpeton)

Reference: Strauss, Bob. (2021, July 11). 300 Million Years of Amphibian Evolution. Retrieved from                     https://www.thoughtco.com/300-million-years-of-amphibian-evolution-1093315

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Carboniferous Period (359.2 to 299 million years ago)

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Carboniferous Period (359.2 to 299 million years ago)

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Small and predominately aquatic (like Eryops)

Ref: Duellman, W. E., & Zug, G. R. (2019, October 23). Evolution and classification. Retrieved from            https://www.britannica.com/animal/amphibian/Evolution-and-classification

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First true amphibians (Eogyrinus )

Reference: Strauss, Bob. (2021, July 11). 300 Million Years of Amphibian Evolution. Retrieved from                      https://www.thoughtco.com/300-million-years-of-amphibian-evolution-1093315

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Permian Period (298.9 million years ago to 252.2 million years ago)

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Permian Period (298.9 million years ago to 252.2 million years ago)

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Carboniferous amphibians persisted. Ancient amphibian groups largely disappeared by the end of this period.

Reference: Duellman, W. E., & Zug, G. R. (2019, October 23). Evolution and classification. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/animal/amphibian/Evolution-and-classification

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Triassic Period (251.902 million years ago to  201.36 million years ago)

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Triassic Period (251.902 million years ago to  201.36 million years ago)

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Few amphibian fossils (Triadobatrachus massinoti)

Reference: Duellman, W. E., & Zug, G. R. (2019, October 23). Evolution and classification. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/animal/amphibian/Evolution-and-classification

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Fig. 9 Pictures of Discoglossidae and Discoglossidae

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Jurassic Period (201.3 million years ago to 145 million years ago)

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Jurassic Period (201.3 million years ago to 145 million years ago)

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Froglike tetrapods disappeared from the fossil record. Frog families (Discoglossidae, Paleocene, Eocene Epoch.). Group of salamanders appeared in the late jurassic (Batrachosauroididae). Salamandroidea evolved at the end of this period.

Reference: Duellman, W. E., & Zug, G. R. (2019, October 23). Evolution and classification. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/animal/amphibian/Evolution-and-classification

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“On the Origin of Species” where Darwin ironically questioned creation theory, trying to explain the absence of amphibians on oceanic islands.

Reference: Darwin, the amphibians, and the natural selection. (2009, March 1). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631068308001140

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As the earliest land vertebrates, amphibians were highly successful for more than 100 million years until reptiles took over as the dominant land vertebrates.

Reference: Libretexts. (2021, March 6). 12.15: Amphibian Evolution and Ecology. Biology LibreTexts. https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book:_Introductory_Biology_(CK-12)/12:_Vertebrates/12.15:_Amphibian_Evolution_and_Ecology#:%7E:text=1%20Amphibians%20evolved%20about%20365%20million%20years%20ago,except%20in%20Antarctica%20and%20Greenland.%20More%20items. . .%20

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Lamarck's  Theory of Acquired Character Heredity 

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Lamarck's  Theory of Acquired Character Heredity 

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Lamarck based his theory of acquired character heredity partly on amphibians: he illustrated his adaptationism by morphological characteristics such as the interdigital membranes of frogs.

Reference: Darwin, the amphibians, and the natural selection. (2009, March 1). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631068308001140

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Current amphibians, together with reptiles, birds and mammals are found within the superclass Tetrapoda (“four limbs”), the vertebrate group that abandoned the sea to conquer the land.

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Lissamphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians). Amphibians can be divided into three groups: Urodela (salamanders), Anura (frogs), and Apoda (caecilians).

Reference: Clark, M. A. (2018, March 5). Amphibians – biology 2e. Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/biology2eopenstax/chapter/amphibians/

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The number of known amphibian species is approximately 8,000, of which nearly 90% are frogs.

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May 6, 2006, Tiktaalik roseae, fossil discovery 

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May 6, 2006, Tiktaalik roseae, fossil discovery 

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(“tetrapod-like fish,” liived in shallow water environment,  intermediate form between fishes having fins and tetrapods having limbs).

Reference: Clark, M. A. (2018, March 5). Amphibians – biology 2e. Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/biology2eopenstax/chapter/amphibians/

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Tiktaalik roseae was discovered in the Canadian artic by a team led by Ted Daeschler. He is a specialist in fish paleontology, especially in the Late Devonian, and in the development of the first limbed vertebrates

Reference: Clark, M. A. (2018, March 5). Amphibians – biology 2e. Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/biology2eopenstax/chapter/amphibians/

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Fig. (?) Polka Dot Tree Frog (Hypsibaas Punctatus) 

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In 2017, scientists discovered the first fluorescent frog, Hypsiboas punctatus, commonly known as the polka dot tree frog, which glows under blacklight  because of the presence of three fluorescent molecules that can be found in its lumph tissues and skin.

Source:
Amphibians News, Articles | The Scientist Magazine® (the-scientist.com)

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Fig. 13 Amphibians Face Mass Extinction as Fungus Spreads Across the World | National Geographic

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Currently, almost one third of all amphibian species face the threat of extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and the introduction of non-native species.

Reference: Libretexts. (2021, March 6). 12.15: Amphibian Evolution and Ecology. Biology LibreTexts. https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_Introductory_Biology_(CK-12)/12%3A_Vertebrates/12.15%3A_Amphibian_Evolution_and_Ecology

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Amphibians Face Mass Extinction as Fungus Spreads Across the World | National Geographic

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Last seen in 1989, Costa Rica's golden toad (pictured) is perhaps the most famous of the "lost amphibians"
Photos: Ten Most Wanted “Extinct” Amphibians. (2021, May 3). Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/100810-ten-lost-extinct-amphibians-frogs-science-environment-pictures

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A type of gastric brooding frog, the likely extinct Rheobatrachus vitellinus had—or has—a unique mode of reproduction: Females swallowed their eggs, raised tadpoles in their stomachs, and then gave birth to froglets through their mouths

Photos: Ten Most Wanted “Extinct” Amphibians. (2021, May 3). Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/100810-ten-lost-extinct-amphibians-frogs-science-environment-pictures

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The "stunning" Jackson's climbing salamander was said to have disappeared from Guatemala in 1975.

Photos: Ten Most Wanted “Extinct” Amphibians. (2021, May 3). Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/100810-ten-lost-extinct-amphibians-frogs-science-environment-pictures

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Fig. (?) 36 Species Declare Extinct in 2020

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International Union for the Conservation of Nature confirmed the extinction of the following amphibian species: Oophaga speciosa (Panama), Pseudoeurycea exspectata (Guatemala), Atelopus chiriquiensis (Costa Rica), Atelopus senex (Costa Rica), and Craugastor myllomyllon (Guatemala).

Source:
AFP News Agency on Twitter: "36 plant and animal species declared extinct in 2020. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last year confirmed the extinction of 36 plant and animal species, not seen for decades #AFPgraphics https://t.co/BpCxgYJ7r9" / Twitter

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Fig. (?) Hellbender, a Giant Salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

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In 2019, researchers found a decline in number of hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) across their range from New York to Alabama and Mississipi. No one knows why they left or died out but a student named Lauren Diaz together with an ecologist from Clemson University namely Cathy Bodinof Jachowski is working to address the issue in knowing what's causing the decline in their number. They fear that they are dying and becoming extinct.

Source:
Saving the Hellbender, a Giant Salamander Under Threat | The Scientist Magazine® (the-scientist.com)

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last year confirmed the extinction of 36 plant and animal species, not seen for decades.

Source: AFP News Agency

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last year confirmed the extinction of 36 plant and animal species, not seen for decades.

Source: AFP News Agency

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Death of an Amphibian Conservation Champion

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Death of an Amphibian Conservation Champion

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A zoology professor at the University of Otago in New Zealand named Phil Bishop, which was also known as a globally renowned champion of amphibian conservation, died on January 23, 2021 at the age of 63.

His dedication in understanding and protecting the frogs will always be remembered.

Source:
Amphibian Conservation Champion Phil Bishop Dies | The Scientist Magazine® (the-scientist.com)

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The animal above is one of about six potentially new species belonging to a mysterious group of animals called caecilians. What's more, the newfound critters represent an entirely new family of amphibians.

Pictures: New Amphibians Without Arms or Legs Discovered. (2021, May 4). Animals. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/120221-limbless-amphibians-caecilians-new-species-science

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This new species of high-altitude glass frog, Centrolene sabini, in the amphibian family of Centrolnidae, was discovered by Allessandro Catenazzi in the cloud forest of Peru's Manu National Park at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet.

Reference: Perlman, D. (2012, August 1). New amphibian species on the increase. SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/science/article/New-amphibian-species-on-the-increase-3752095.php#photo-3265604

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Fig. 20 Mount Pu Ta Leng leaf-litter frog (Leptobrachella graminicola),

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The Mount Pu Ta Leng leaf-litter frog (Leptobrachella graminicola), the latest amphibious addition was found in just one single valley on Mount Pu Ta Leng by a team of conservation biologists on an expedition led by international conservation charity ZSL’s (Zoological Society of London) EDGE Hero, Luan Thanh Nguyen.

âFroggy mountainsââ¯reveals fifth new amphibian species in five years. (n.d.). Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Retrieved September 20, 2021, from https://www.zsl.org/conservation/news/froggy-mountains%E2%80%AFreveals-fifth-new-amphibian-species-in-five-years

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Fig. 21 Rhombophryne Ellae was discovered in Madagascar. Photo by Dr. Mark D. Scherz

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A new species of diamond frog of the genus Rhombophryne was discovered by a German researcher named Dr. Mark D. Scherz and was found in Montagne d’Ambre National Park (Northern Madagascar).

Rhombophryne ellae has a unique characteristic on its hind limb containing orange flash markings with two large, black inguinal spots above the thigh which resembles an eye.

Source:
New Species Of Diamond Frog From Northern Madagascar Discovered And Described - Reptiles Magazine

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On February 27, 2021, a study conducted by two biologists namely Jennifer Lamb and Matthew Davis, from St. Cloud State University, discovered that the salamander they were studying lit up when exposed to blue light.

Source:
Glowing Amphibians Extremely Common | The Scientist Magazine® (the-scientist.com)

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Researchers Fight a Devastating Amphibian Infection Using Heat

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Researchers Fight a Devastating Amphibian Infection Using Heat

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They’ve survived volcanic eruptions, but one Caribbean island’s mountain chicken frogs might need help from scientists to escape the lethal chytrid fungus.

Chytridiomycosis is widely recognized as “the most important cause of species extinctions” in amphibians, says Andrew Cunningham, a veterinary pathologist at Zoological Society London (ZSL) who led the team that first identified the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

The frogs’ enclosure contains solar-heated ponds, areas in which tree canopy has been removed to allow the sun to heat the ground, and large rocks that the frogs can use as basking sites. Luke Jones, project coordinator, explains that the chytrid fungus struggles to survive at high temperatures; he and his colleagues hope that the abundance of warm areas will give the frogs an advantage over the fungus, and perhaps time to develop resilience to the disease.

Source: Parker, J. (2020, January 13).

Researchers Fight a Devastating Amphibian Infection Using Heat. Retrieved from https://www.the-scientist.com/notebook/researchers-fight-a-devastating-amphibian-infection-using-heat-66905

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Amphibians are essential predators and prey in the natural world. They eat pest insects, which aids agriculture all around the world and helps to prevent diseases like malaria from spreading. Amphibian skin includes a wide range of peptides, which could be used to treat a wide range of human diseases. It's already in some pain relievers and blood pressure medications, as well as being used to prevent HIV transmission and treat microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics. As species become extinct, so do therapy options. The ability of amphibians to regrow limbs is being investigated in order to learn more about how to improve tissue regeneration and growth.

8 Reasons Amphibians are Amazing! - SAFE Blog - Durrell Wildlife. (2016, June 8). Durrell. https://www.durrell.org/wildlife/amphibian-blog/eight-reasons-amphibians-are-amazing#:%7E:text=Amphibians%20play%20an%20important%20role%20in%20nature%20%E2%80%93,minimise%20the%20spread%20of%20disease%2C%20including%20malaria.%203.