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http://blepharopsis.devianart.com |
Classification: The red-eyed tree frog, or Aglachnis callidryas, is, like any other organism on this earth, classified on many different levels. Let's take a look at why it is put into the particular categories it belongs to. Kingdom: Anamalia . The red-eyed tree frog is classified under the kingdom of anamalia because in order to be classified in this kingdom organisms “are multicellular organisms that obtain energy by eating food. Most have nerves and muscles, and are mobile.” 1 The red eyed tree frog has all of these characteristics and therefore belongs in the kingdom Anamalia. Phylum: Chordata . “Animals with a strengthened rod or notochord running the length of their bodies, for all or part of their lives” 1 classifies an organism in the phylum chordate. The red- eyed tree frog does indeed have a solid vertebral column of about nine or less vertebrae making it classified in the phylum chordate. Class: Amphibia . The characteristics of the class amphibian are that amphibians spend part of their life in water and part on land, they are cold blooded and the life cycle involves a transformation from larvae that are in the water and eventually grow to be terrestrial adults. The red-eyed tree frog eggs are laid on leaves near water and when they hatch fall into the water and after about 12 weeks are fully formed terrestrial adults that are cold blooded. Order: Anura . The class Amphibia is separated into three categories: newts and salamanders, frogs and toads, and caecilians. The order Anura includes the frogs and the toads which characteristics are as follows: as adults frogs and toads have no tail (they lose it as go through metamorphosis into the terrestrial adult stage), they have larvae known as tadpoles which feed off of algae or plant material and have a more spherical body shape as well as gills that are external but in the adult stage are internal. Once again, the red-eyed tree frog has all these characteristics placing it in the order Anura. Family: Hylidae . In order to be in the family hylidae a frog must have the following characteristics: have claw shaped terminal phalanges with toe pads, short webs between toes, intercalary cartilage present (an extra piece of cartilage in the toes of hylidae frogs), co-ossification of skin on the skull (the skull bone is connected to the lower dermis of the skin), and horizontal pupils. Genus: Agalychnis . Agalychnis are highly arboreal frogs and they lay their eggs on leaves of plants above ponds so that when they hatch they will slip into the water below. The red-eyed tree frog falls into this category because it also has the above characteristics. Species: Agalychnis callidryas . The red-eyed tree frog is known for its bright red eyes as well as its bright coloration. It is approximately 5.7 to 7.6 cm long and has a bright green skin with bright blue forelimbs. For a more in depth look at this frogs characteristics see the adaptation section of the webpage. |
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Domain: Eucarya Kingdom: Anamailia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Hylidae Genus: Agalychnis Species: Agalychnis callidryas |
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http://blepharopsis.devianart.com |
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