Among living organisms, amphibians frogs, toads and salamanders hold a special fascination to humans. Part of this fascination may be traceable to childhood, when many of us chased and caught these critters. The term amphibian comes from the Greek words amphi and bios. The two terms together mean living a double life.
Most amphibians spend their early life in water, where eggs are laid and larvae hatch and swim.
Although some amphibians eventually leave the water to live on land, some species remain in the water throughout their lives. The green frog, bull frog and cricket frog make the water their permanent home. Clean, unpolluted water is optimal for the survival of all amphibians. It appears, however, that some species are no longer thriving. Reports indicate that many frog species have completely disappeared in North and South America, Australia and Bangladesh.