Lissamphibia

Lissamphibia is the clade containing all living amphibians: frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. Its members share a common evolutionary ancestry, though their relationships to extinct amphibians remain debated.

Anura: Anura is the amphibian order comprising frogs and toads, typically characterized by adults with short bodies and elongated hind limbs. This is the most species-rich living lineage within Lissamphibia.
Cutaneous respiration: Cutaneous respiration is gas exchange across the skin rather than, or in addition to, respiratory organs. Many lissamphibians rely on skin for a substantial share of oxygen uptake.
Temnospondyli: Temnospondyli is a diverse extinct group of mostly amphibious tetrapods known from the Carboniferous through the Cretaceous. Temnospondyl ancestry is a leading hypothesis for the origin of living amphibians.
Amphibian chytridiomycosis: Amphibian chytridiomycosis is a skin disease caused by chytrid fungi, including Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. It has driven severe declines across multiple lissamphibian groups.
Caudata: Caudata is the amphibian order comprising salamanders and newts, generally bearing elongated bodies and tails as adults. It represents one of Lissamphibia’s three distinct surviving body plans.
Amplexus: Amplexus is the mating embrace in which a male amphibian grips a female during reproduction. This common reproductive behavior occurs in numerous frog and salamander species.
Lepospondyli: Lepospondyli is a group of extinct Paleozoic tetrapods with distinctive vertebral structures and varied body forms. Some evolutionary hypotheses derive Lissamphibia from lepospondyl ancestors instead.
Amphibian decline: Amphibian decline is the widespread reduction or disappearance of amphibian populations and species. Population losses across all three living lineages affect Lissamphibia globally.
Gymnophiona: Gymnophiona is the amphibian order comprising caecilians, mostly limbless animals adapted to burrowing or aquatic life. Its concealed, limbless members make this lissamphibian lineage especially distinctive.
Metamorphosis: Metamorphosis is a developmental transition in which an animal changes substantially in form and function. Many lissamphibians transform from aquatic larvae into differently adapted adults.

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