Difference Between Toad and Frog

For some people, distinguishing toads from frogs can be difficult; since they are quite similar. These two amphibians are quite well known, especially because they are frequently mentioned in children’s stories, television and in the stories that are told in each culture: the toad that after being kissed becomes a prince, René the Frog, the toads and frogs that witches used as ingredients for their spells. Difference Between Toad and Frog

For those people who are not very involved with nature, today we are going to say what is the difference between frog and toad.

FROG Difference Between Toad and Frog

Frogs are part of the Animalia Kingdom and the Anura genus. Anurans are a group that are commonly classified into 33 different families, of which the largest are the Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, and Ranidae.

Almost all families in the order Anura are considered frogs, however, only members of the Bufonidae family are considered “true toads.”

Frogs are considered as aquatic or semi-aquatic creatures depending on their type, and they recite in places near water or in water to survive. They are found on almost every continent except Antarctica.

The easiest way to distinguish a frog is by the appearance of its skin. Frog skin is damp, wet, smooth, and shiny. Many families of frogs secrete a soft, sticky toxic substance that forms a kind of coating to keep their bodies moist and ward off predators.

Frogs are usually small, they have a slim body; with a narrow waist and have no tail. They have powerful hind legs, which are slightly longer than the front legs, and their eyes are bulging. The hind legs are usually webbed (the toes are joined by a membrane), in order to help them climb surfaces and swim in the water. Many types of frogs also have a full set of small teeth, although some have only one set of teeth further down their mouth.

Frogs can vary in shape and come in different colors: green, yellow, brown … in some cases they can combine more than one color in order to camouflage themselves and protect themselves from predators. The life of a frog can last from 2 to 15 years in the jungle and up to 40 years in captivity.

TOADS

Toads are also part of the Animalia Kingdom and the Anura order. These are often classified among the families Bufonidae, Bombinatoridae, Discoglossidae, Pelobatidae, Rhinophrynidae, Scaphiopodidae, and Microhylidae.

Only toads in the Bufonidae family are considered true toads. The most common toad is the English toad also known as the Bufo toad.

Note: Scientifically, there is no distinction between frogs and toads in terms of their taxonomy.

Unlike frogs, toads do not require water and moisture to survive; they can remain in dry and arid areas without problems. However, they adapt easily to humid conditions and areas close to water. S apos are found on almost every continent except Antarctica and Australia (the latter is actually a country that belongs to the Oceania continent).

Generally, toads are known for their warty skin. A toad’s skin is thick, rough, dry, and leathery. It is the small bumps that you have that make it look like you have small warts.

They are distinguished from frogs by their plump body and small short legs. They do not have webbed feet, but both their hind legs as well as those on the front have their little fingers separated. Also, they don’t have a tail. Their eyes are large, with ridges on top and behind them are the parotoid glands. These glands are responsible for secreting a sticky liquid that is smelly and toxic, to keep predators away. 

Another thing that characterizes them is that they play by inflating their bodies to fool their predators. M hile frogs use their powerful hind legs to jump away, toads are known to jump short distances. 

Toads don’t have teeth. G sually are in dark and dirty colors, for this reason can easily be mixed with rocks and fallen leaves. The lifespan of a toad can range from 2 to 20 years in captivity and 5 to 10 years in the wild. However, many have lived to the age of 40.

Key differences between toads and frogs

• Frogs tend to have smooth, shiny, and moist skin; while toads have dry and rough skin.
• Frogs have long, strong hind legs, while toads have small, short hind legs.
• Frogs usually have webbed feet (especially the hind legs), while toads have their toes spread apart.
• Female frogs lay small groups of eggs on the surface of the water, while female toads lay a long chain of eggs.
• Frogs have a small and thin body, with a small waist and bulging eyes; while toads have a plump body with small legs, dry skin and bumps that look like warts.
• Frogs have teeth and toads don’t.
• Frogs require a humid habitat to survive, while toads; Although they adapt to humidity, they can also live in dry and arid areas.
• The eyes of frogs are bulging, but those of toads are only large.
• Frogs jump high to flee from predators, while toads use their stench to drive them away.

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•  Reptiles and Amphibians