Am-phĭbĭ-a, n. pl.

n. pl. [N. Lat. amphibium, Gr. ἀμφίβιος, living a double life, i. e., both on land and in water, from Gr. ἀμφί, on both sides, around, and βίος, life; Fr. amphibie.] [Zool.] Same as Reptilia, or the class of reptiles which includes the saurians, crocodiles, lizards, serpents, frogs or batrachians, turtles, and salamanders.

† More correctly the term is restricted to the batrachians and salamanders, the others being true reptiles. The amphibia, thus restricted, are distinguished by having no scales, and by undergoing a complete metamorphosis, the young having gills; and they have other close relations to fishes, on account of which they are sometimes made a distinct class of vertebrates. The amphibia include four divisions: (1.) The tailless, as the frogs (Anoura); (2.) The tailed (Urodeta), as the salamanders; (3.) The siren group (Sirenoidea), or those which retain the gills of the young state (hence called Perennibranchiate) through the adult state, among which are the siren, proteus, &c.; (4.) The cæcilioids, or serpent-like amphibia. Dana.

Marsh Frog (Rana palustris).