Chapter 28, Problem 27A

Summary Introduction

To explain:

The manner the senses of amphibians are adapted to life on land.

Introduction:

Amphibians include toads, frogs, salamanders, newts, and legless caecilians. Most amphibians are distinguished by moist skin without scales, four legs, exchange of gases through skin, a circulatory system with double loop, lungs, and aquatic larvae.

Explanation of Solution

The nervous systems of amphibians are well developed. For most amphibians, vision is an essential feature. They use sight to find and catch the prey that is traveling at high speeds and to avoid predators. Frog's eyes have structures called nictitating membranes. The nictitating membrane is a translucent eyelid that can pass around the eye to shield it underwater and prevent it from drying out on the land. The amphibian ear shows the adaptation to life on land. The tympanic membrane is an eardrum. In frogs, it is a thin outer membrane on the side of the head. Frogs use their tympanic membrane to hear high frequency sounds and to amplify sounds from the vocal cords. Other senses in amphibians include chemical receptors of skin, touch, taste buds on the tongue, and sense of smell in the nasal cavity. It is very important for amphibians to sense the temperature of their environment because they are ectotherms. Ectotherms are animals that obtain their body heat from the external environment.

Conclusion

Thus, the senses of amphibians are adapted to life on land. The tympanic membrane, nictitating membranes are the adaptations of amphibians.