An amphibian is a cold-blooded vertebrate animal that belongs to the class Amphibia, which includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Amphibians typically have a life cycle that includes both aquatic and terrestrial stages, beginning as eggs laid in water that hatch into larvae (tadpoles) before undergoing metamorphosis into adult forms. They are characterized by their moist skin, which aids in respiration and hydration, and they often play important roles in their ecosystems as both predators and prey.