A reader asks “Why do amphibians have to be near water or in a very wet habitat?”
Well not all amphibians live near water.
There are toads that live in the desert. but frogs have extremely sensitive skin and they can get some of their moisture through their skin, plus as you probably know, frogs have adapted to water ie webbed feet, ability to stay under water for long periods of time, etc so it would make sense for them to live near water so they can use it!
Another reasons why most amphibians live near water is because some of them lay eggs in water. In the case of frogs the eggs hatch in the water as tadpoles. Water habitats also contain lots of insects and frogs, toads and most other amphibians love to eat insects.
See the comments below for more good answers to this question.
Because their skin will dry out if they aren’t.
For the purpose of reproduction and skin sensitivity.
Not all do! Toads, for instance, don’t always need to be right next to water. And tree frogs don’t live in or near water alot of times, though they do enjoy a good rain. Almost all amphibians (99.8 percentile, at a guess) breed in water. Which is one reason most amphibians can be found in water. Most have a larval (such as a tadpole) stage that requires at least one free swimming water stage.
Also; amphibians can breath through their skin. And to do such, they need to have their skin moist. Most amphibians also have very sensitive skin, which needs to be moist to allow the slimy coat that many have.
Hope this helps!
well not all amphibians live near water. there are toads that live in the desert. but frogs have extremely sensitive skin and they drink through it. also, they have water adaptations (webbed feet, ability to stay under water for long periods of time, ect.) so it wud make since for them to live near water so they can use them! also MOST amphibians lay tadpole eggs in water. water habitats also contain lots of insects (which frogs and toads luv to eat).