Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Biology / Taxonomy / Difference Between Amniotes and Anamniotes

Difference Between Amniotes and Anamniotes

April 10, 2018 Posted by Samanthi

 Key Difference – Amniotes vs Anamniotes

Amniotes and Anamniotes are two vertebrates groups. The key difference between Amniotes and Anamniotes is that Amniotes are higher vertebrates including reptiles, birds, and mammals while anamniotes are lower vertebrates including fishes and amphibians.

Classification is the systematic grouping of organisms based on their morphological, structural, genetical, evolutionary similarities and dissimilarities for the ease of identification. Different classification systems were introduced with time and some were disregarded while some systems are still using. For the communication easiness, some less familiar classification systems are also informally used and the vertebrate classification into two groups; Amniotes and Anamniotes is one such.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Amniotes
3. What are Anamniotes
4. Similarities Between Amniotes and Anamniotes
5. Side by Side Comparison – Amniotes vs Anamniotes in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What are Amniotes?

Amniotes are a group of higher vertebrates who have an extra-embryonic membrane called amnion during the embryonic stage. This group includes animals such as reptiles, birds, and mammals. They are tetrapods, meaning they have four limbs. Amniotes do not lay eggs in water instead they lay eggs on lands or they keep fertilized eggs within the mother organism.

Difference Between Amniotes and Anamniotes

Figure 01: Amniotes

The presence of the amnion is the characteristic feature that is used to separate higher vertebrates from lower vertebrates. The group Amniota was first introduced by Ernst Haeckel in 1866.

What are Anamniotes?

Anamniotes are a group of lower vertebrates who do not have an amnion during their embryonic stage. Anamniotes depend on water for reproduction. They lay eggs in water.

Key Difference Between Amniotes and Anamniotes

Figure 02: Anamniotes

Moreover, they possess a permeable skin that is used to diffuse water and gasses. Anamniotes include fishes and amphibians. They possess gills during their lifetime.

What are the Similaties Between Amniotes and Anamniotes?

  • Both Amniotes and Anamniotes are vertebrates.
  • Both include tetrapods animals.

What is the Difference Between Amniotes and Anamniotes?

Amniotes vs Anamniotes

Amniotes are higher vertebrates who have an amnion during their embryonic stage. Anamniotes are lower vertebrates who do not have an amnion during their embryonic stage.
 Vertebrate Classification
Amniotes are higher vertebrates. Anamniotes are lower vertebrates.
Included Animal Groups
Amniotes include reptiles, birds and mammals. Anamniotes include fishes and amphibians.
 Presence of Gills
Amniotes do not bear gills. Anamniotes have gills during their lifetime.
Presence of Amnion during the Embryonic stage
Amniotes have an amnion during their embryonic stage. Anamniotes do not have amnion in their embryonic stage.
Necessity to Return to water for Reproduction
Amniotes are not needed to go to water for reproduction. Anamniotes are required to go to water for reproduction.
Laying Eggs
Amniotes lay eggs on land or keep the fertilized egg within the mother body. Anamniotes lay eggs in water.
Presence of a Permeable Skin
Amniotes do not have a permeable skin. Anamniotes have a permeable skin for the exchange of water and gasses.

Summary – Amniotes vs Anamniotes

Amniotes and Anamniotes include higher vertebrates and lower vertebrates respectively. Presence of an amnion is the basic feature of amniotes and absence of an amnion is characteristic to anamniotes. Amniotes are not using the water for reproduction while anamniotes are dependent on water for reproduction. Anmiotes include birds, reptiles and mammals while anamniotes include fishes and amphibians. This is the difference between amniotes and anamniotes.

Reference:

1.Zug, George R. “Amniota.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2 May 2016. Available here
2.“Anamniotes.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Mar. 2018. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.’Chicken egg diagram’By KDS4444 – Own work, (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia 
2.’Cut-throat-spawning-15271’By Ed Austin & Herb Jones – NPS, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia  

Related posts:

Difference Between Phototrophs and ChemotrophsDifference Between Phototrophs and Chemotrophs

Filed Under: Taxonomy Tagged With: Amniotes, Amniotes and Anamniotes Similarities, Amniotes Animals, Amniotes Classification, Amniotes Definition, Amniotes Reproduction, Amniotes vs Anamniotes, Anamniotes, Anamniotes Animals, Anamniotes Classification, Anamniotes Definition, Anamniotes Reproduction

About the Author: Samanthi

Dr.Samanthi Udayangani holds a B.Sc. Degree in Plant Science, M.Sc. in Molecular and Applied Microbiology, and PhD in Applied Microbiology. Her research interests include Bio-fertilizers, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Molecular Microbiology, Soil Fungi, and Fungal Ecology.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Sex Offender and Predator

Difference Between Job Costing and Batch Costing

Difference Between Job Costing and Batch Costing

Difference Between Chlorenchyma and Aerenchyma

Difference Between Chlorenchyma and Aerenchyma

Difference Between Cane and Bamboo

Difference Between Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 and Thinkpad Tablet

Latest Posts

  • Difference Between Camphor and Menthol
  • Difference Between Aminocaproic Acid and Tranexamic Acid
  • Difference Between Nitronium Nitrosonium and Nitrosyl
  • Difference Between Trichloroacetic Acid and Trifluoroacetic Acid
  • Difference Between Group I and Group II Introns
  • Difference Between Ion Channel and Ion Pump
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.