2006-09-06 11:49:11 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Having four legs makes a creature a member of the superclass tetrapoda. This includes amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and some other creatures that are tetrapods by decent. But no fish. So that's out right away. Further, all birds have two legs even though their ancestors had more, so they're out too.
The first question we'll have to ask is whether it is an amniote or not. Amniotes develop directly into their normal form, while non-amniotes have a larval stage and then metamorphose into the form they spend their adulthood in. Amphibians are non-amniotes.
Of the remaining two, mammals all have hair or fur and are 'warm-blooded', while all reptiles are 'cold-blooded' and almost all of them are covered by scales.
Though if you want to be REALLY thorough, you'll take a DNA sample and see how it compares to existing species. This is known as cladistics, and is considered to be the most accurate way to determine where an animal fits on the tree, so to speak.
2006-09-06 12:25:23 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 legs, no fins, no claws.
It's not a bird or a fish.
Salamanders have claws, and they're amphibians. So it's not an amphibian.
Most reptiles except snakes have claws.
You can tell by other physical traits and reproductive ways...
If this were a trick question, I'd say that it's none of the above unless you specified what species you wanted it to be.
Jeez!
2006-09-06 11:55:08 · answer #2 · answered by cached_dimension 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fish = fins
Reptile = claws
Bird = 2 legs
Mammal = claws
It's an amphibian.
2006-09-06 11:53:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 leg is reptile 2 leg is bird mammal 4 legs or 2 hands and 2 legs.
2006-09-06 12:08:53 · answer #4 · answered by noname 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fish - gills, lateral line
Amphibian - no link between nostrils and throat, young different to adults
Reptile - water tight skin. Bouble eyelid, only one bone in middle ear. Undifferntiated teeth.
Bird (modern) - keel bone in breast, feathers, honeycomb bones
Mammal - hair, three bones in middle ear.
2006-09-06 12:15:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an amphibian.
2006-09-06 11:51:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
By looking at it. And by process of elimination.
2006-09-06 11:55:13 · answer #7 · answered by pknutson_sws 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just check and compare its DNA.
2006-09-06 11:53:02 · answer #8 · answered by NaughtyBoy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a horse
2006-09-06 12:02:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does it have scales?
Does it have gills?
Is it warm blooded?
Etc
2006-09-06 11:52:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋