Frog vs Toad
Frog and Toad are two commonly confused but well-known animals. Therefore, a better understanding about some of their biological aspects would make it easy to correctly recognize a toad from a frog. The differences would be easy to understand after going through their characteristics and then analysing those between a toad and a frog as in this article.
Frog
Frogs are anuran amphibians with a wide diversity and distribution throughout the world except Antarctica. They have certain salient characteristics for identification including their narrow waist, webbed toes, protruding eyes, and the absence of tail. Their powerful and long hind legs are well adapted for jumping. Frogs have a shiny and glossy skin, which is always wet in texture. In addition, their skin is permeable, and they require water around their habitats, and as a result, they have become semi aquatic animals. Frogs are highly vocal during their mating periods. They lay eggs on the surface of the water. The frog larva starts its life like a plankton feeding fish, and it has gills and fins for respiration and locomotion respectively. The adults are carnivores. Depending on the species, the lifespan varies. There are more than 4,300 species of frogs, which is over 88% of the total number of anurans in the world.
Toad
A toad is any anuran amphibian, which are especially characterized by the dry and leathery skin, short legs, and uniquely elevated and elongated parotid glands. In addition, their short legs are attached to the stumpy body. Another important observation about toads is the presence of warts on the rough skin. Usually, they prefer to inhabit wet or damp environments that are away from the water. Toads are viviparous, and females fertilize the eggs inside the body and let them out in the form of chains of fertilized eggs. Toads need water only during the breeding season; otherwise, they can stay on the land and away from water. There are no webbed feet among toads but separated toes. Most of the toads do not have teeth, but there are parotid glands filled with poison, to deter predators.
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What is the difference between Frog and Toad? • Frogs have smooth, shiny, and permeable skin, but it is a rough, dry looking, and leathery with warts in toads. • Frogs live in semi aquatic habitats. However, toads are more adapted to stay without water compared to frogs. In addition, toads come to water only during their breeding seasons. • Frog has a narrow body and waist, but toad has a broader and puffy body. • Frogs have long legs (especially hind legs) those are used for hopping and fast swimming, but toads have short legs for walking rather than hopping. • Frogs have webbed toes but not toads. • Frogs have teeth on their upper jaws but not teeth in toads.
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