Is fecundation in amphibians external or internal? In this aspect are amphibians evolutionarily proximal to fishes or to reptiles?
In the majority of the amphibian species fecundation is external. This feature is common to bony fishes too and it shows that the reproductive system and the embryonic development of amphibians are a heritage from osteichthyes. Curiously although having external fecundation amphibian male and female copulate to stimulate the liberation of sperm and egg cells. This phenomenon does not characterize internal fecundation since the gametes unite in water.
