What’s the difference between a frog and a toad?
There actually are no scientific distinctions between frogs and toads. The term “frog” is actually a general term for any amphibian grouped under the superorder Salienta and order Anura, which includes all species of frogs and toads. The name Anura comes from the Greek an (without) and ura (a tail), referring to their tailless condition. Twenty-five families with over 4,000 Anuran species are currently recognized today, with more being discovered regularly.
Characteristics all frogs and toads share in common include the fact that all frogs and toads:
- Are amphibians, meaning double life because many species of both spend part of their time in aquatic (water) and terrestrial (land) environments. Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrate animals. Unlike reptiles, amphibians have no scales.
- Hatch from eggs as tadpoles and experience the process of metamorphosis, meaning a change (meta) in form (morpho). At birth, the tadpoles will generally attach themselves to wees or grass in the water. In 7 to 10 days, they start swimming around and feeding on algae. They start absorbing their tails and growing legs after about 6 to 9 weeks. About 12 weeks of age, tadpoles become froglets and only have tiny stubby tails. Between 12 and 16 weeks, froglets completely absorb their tails and leave the water, becoming adult frogs.
- Can breathe through their skins.
- Lay eggs in water or in moist terrestrial sites.
- Rest with their eyes closed and hibernate in the winter.
However, while all toads are frogs, not all frogs are toads. True frogs (members of the family Ranidae, containing more than 400 species) are not considered toads. And, even though there are several families of toad, the common name “toad” is given specifically to members of the family Bufonidae (true toads), which contains more than 300 species. Here are some of the differences between true frogs and true toads:
- True frogs can be found on every continent except Antarctica. True toads can be found worldwide except in Australasia (a region of Oceania that includes Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean), polar regions, Madagascar, and Polynesia. However, the giant toad (Bufo marinus), also known as the cane toad and marine toad, has been artificially introduced into Australia and some South Pacific islands.
- True frogs have two bulging eyes and long, strong legs for hopping. They also have fully-webbed hind feet that are adapted for swimming. True toads have fat boddies with short legs that are mainly used for walking instead of hopping. They have almost no webbing on their hind feet.
- True frogs generally spend most of their lives in or near water, so they have smooth, clammy skin. True toads are typically land-dwellers that find their way into gardens and yards. They have dry, bumpy skin.
- True frogs are usually brightly colored. True toads, on the other hand, are generally well-camouflaged to blend in with their environments.
- True frogs are active hunters, leaping out to pull in their prey. True toads are ambush hunters that wait for their prey to pass before attacking.
- True toads have paratoid (poison) glands behind the eyes. They exude a white fluid through these glands and through their skin that is very poisonous. It causes intense burning if it comes in contact with the eyes or mouth.
- True toads have a special organ that true frogs don’t have–the Bidder’s organ, which is a vestigial ovary that is found in the male toad.
- True frogs have upper and lower teeth. True toads don’t have upper teeth.
- True frogs generally lay their eggs in clusters, while most true toads lay theirs in long chains, with the exception of genera Nectophrynoides–the only anurans that bear live young.
- A true frog’s back is raised with two ridges down each side. True toads have a more flattened appearance.
- The true toad’s chest cartilage is different than that of the true frog’s.
- A group of frogs is called an “army”, while a group of toads is called a “knot”.