Three simple characteristics will help you discern the difference between a reptile and an amphibian.
Although both reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded animals, their differences far outweigh their similarities. There are three major differences that distinguish a reptile from an amphibian.
Developmental Differences
Amphibians are defined as animals born in a water-breathing form that later grow into air-breathing adults.
The main difference between a reptile and an amphibian is that a reptile is born an air-breathing, cold-blooded animal with four legs, but amphibians go through a stage of metamorphosis where they are born water-breathing animals and later develop into air-breathing amphibians. A prime example of an amphibian would be the tadpole, which later develops into a frog.
Anatomical Differences
The tough waterproof skin of turtles enables these reptiles to live on land and water.
Reptiles are born with four legs and reptilian skin that is watertight, allowing the animals to live on land. An example of reptilian skin is that of the turtle, whose scales enable it to go into water but live on land without the skin being affected. In contrast, amphibians may be born with no limbs and have skin that can change over time to adapt to their environment and developmental stage.
Evolutionary Differences
Fossils of amphibians have been dated earlier than those of reptiles.
Amphibians first emerged 417 to 354 million years ago. Scientists believe they originally began as fish, and later evolved into lungfish with fins allowing them to walk on the sea floor. Fossils of reptiles have been found as early as 320 to 310 million years ago, when reptiles first developed as fish and evolved into the dinosaurs we see today in the form of fossils.
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