LISSAMPHIBIA Meaning and
Definition
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Lissamphibia is a term used to refer to a class of vertebrates that includes modern amphibians along with their extinct relatives. It is derived from the Greek words "lissos," meaning smooth, and "amphibia," which refers to the group of animals that are able to live both on land and in water. Lissamphibia encompasses three main groups of amphibians: frogs and toads (anurans), salamanders and newts (urodela), and caecilians (gymnophiona).
These organisms are characterized by their unique life cycle, which involves an aquatic larval stage and a semi-terrestrial or fully terrestrial adult stage. They possess several adaptations that allow them to thrive in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, including a highly permeable skin that supports cutaneous respiration and the ability to lay eggs in water.
Lissamphibians are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature is regulated by external factors. They typically possess two pairs of limbs, although limb reduction occurs in some species, and their skin is usually smooth and moist. Additionally, they exhibit a dual respiratory system, relying on both lungs and cutaneous respiration to supplement gaseous exchange.
The evolution and diversification of lissamphibians occurred during the Carboniferous period, approximately 360 million years ago. They are an ancient and important group of organisms, playing crucial ecological roles as both predator and prey in various ecosystems around the world.
Etymology of LISSAMPHIBIA
The word "Lissamphibia" is derived from Greek origins. "Lissos" means smooth or sleek, and "amphibia" refers to amphibians – the class of animals that includes frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. Therefore, "Lissamphibia" essentially means "smooth-skinned amphibians", highlighting their characteristic feature of having moist, glandular skin without scales or feathers.
