Bionic amphibious robots are receiving attention and significant interest from the civil and military sectors since they can move on land and swim underwater. When developing a bionic amphibious robot, there is a diverse range of underwater and land locomotion methods to choose from. These include bionic and non-bionic methods and they have their own advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, a variety of bionic amphibious robots that have been designed over the past few decades are reviewed. In addition, some of the key technologies for their effective implementation are comprehensively analysed. First, the driving mechanisms of the aquatic and terrestrial motion modes are introduced. After performing a detailed analytical classification of the bionic amphibious robots, according to the different bionic prototypes, all actuator and energy types that are applied in bionic amphibious robots are reviewed and analysed based on their materials and motion capabilities. The onboard sensors and control strategies for these systems are outlined to illustrate how the robots perceive the environment and make autonomous decisions. Finally, the existing deficiencies and future development trends of bionic amphibious robots are analysed and discussed. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd