What is the difference between a reptile and an amphibian?

There are many structural and reproductive differences
between reptiles and amphibians though both are vertebrates. Some sorts of reptiles are
alligators, crocodiles, turtles, and snakes. And some amphibians are salamanders, toads,
frogs etc.

One difference is between the structures of
their skin. Reptiles are covered with scales, shields, or plates and their toes have
claws. Amphibians, on the other hand, have wet, glandular skins, and their toes lack
claws.

Another difference is between the eggs. Eggs of
reptiles have a thick, solid covering that protects the developing embryo from moisture
loss, even on dry land. In contrast, the eggs of amphibians lack a hard outer covering.
For this, they must be laid in water or damp places. The eggs of a reptile have hard
leathery shells which protect the young inside, and are often laid in buried, insulated
nests. Amphibians lay soft eggs without an external covering, and the eggs are usually
attached to the stems of aquatic plants.

Though, some
reptile species can swim, they do not take to water as readily as amphibians do, and can
be found in a wider range of locations. Reptiles also have more diverse body types,
ranging from limbless snakes to giant dinosaurs, and they are primarily land
animals.

When reptile eggs are hatched, the young look like
miniature adults. As the young grow up, they will mature into scaly animals with fully
developed lungs and dry href="http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-get-rid-of-dry-frizzy-hair.htm"/> skins. When
an amphibian hatches, it initially emerges in the form or a tadpole, an aquatic larva
which breathes through gills. Tadpoles cannot survive out of water, but, as they grow
and mature, they get bigger, grow limbs, and lose their tails. Finally, they develop
lungs and turn into mature amphibians, which will spend much of its life in and around
the water.