Amphibians
Amphibians are members of the class Amphibia, a group of vertebrates whose living forms include frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians. As non-amniote, their eggs are not surrounded by membranes. As ectotherms, they are cold-blooded. As tertapods, they have four feet.
Most amphibians lay their eggs in water and the larvae undergo metamorphosis from a juvenile form with gills to an adult air-breathing form with lungs. Some, however, are paedomorphs that retain the juvenile water-breathing form throughout life. Mudpuppies and olms are examples of this, retaining juvenile gills into adulthood. Adult amphibians also use their skin for respiration.
Frogs are sometimes used as biological indicators for healthy stream water.