Can the Amphibian Skin Function as Eyes?
In addition to above said, the skin serves as a sensitive organ for perceiving the outer information. For example, some amphibian species, even as fishes, have special organs of sense neuromasts which are equipped with sensitive receptors. These organs signal to the animal about displacements and vibrations in the water. They are useful for active location of the water space, especially in muddy water or at night, when they replace the vision. For example, such organs are found in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). They look like small hollows with microscopic hairs. These hairs bend when water moves along the body. In the nervous system corresponding signals occur. This remarkable system informs the frog about hardly noticeable displacements in the water caused by a swimming insect, for example. Moreover, the amphibians skin has sensitivity to light. Due to this remarkable property, the skin is even considered as an element of the organs of vision of amphibians.
