Final answer:
Amphibians, numbering around 6,500 species, are found globally except in Antarctica, in habitats such as freshwater and moist terrestrial environments. They include frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians, with sizes ranging from tiny to over a foot in length, like the Goliath frog.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amphibians are a diversified and widespread group of vertebrates, inhabiting regions from the tropics to subarctic areas. With an estimated 6,500 species globally, they play pivotal roles in ecosystems as both predators and prey, displaying a vast array of life histories and ecological adaptations. Notably, these animals are absent from Antarctica and consist mainly of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians. Frogs are particularly known for their diversity and specialization for terrestrial movement, with species varying dramatically in size. Examples range from the minute frogs of Brazil and Cuba to the Goliath frog of Cameroon, which can grow to over one foot in length and weigh up to 7 pounds. Despite these large species, frogs tend to be smaller than many reptiles. Meanwhile, salamanders also exhibit significant diversity, with some species, like the Japanese giant salamander, reaching lengths of up to five feet. Amphibians' habitats include freshwater and moist terrestrial environments such as lakes, streams, and tropical rainforests, though some species have adapted to drier climes.