by The main difference between frogs and toads it can be seen on its hind legs and on the skin. Both frogs and toads are amphibians that belong to the scientific order Anura within the animal kingdom.
In general, toads have warty, drier skin with stocky bodies and stubby legs, while frogs have silky skin and longer legs.
“True frogs” include about 400 species that belong to the family Ranidae, while more than 300 species of “true toads” are members of the family Bufonidae, according to Canada Wildlife Preservation.
If you look down while taking a walk in the woods or a swamp, here are some distinguishing features to help you tell the difference between a true frog and a true toad.
Most true frogs have long legs for jumping, while toads have stocky bodies and shorter legs for walking, Wildlife Preservation Canada noted. Their skin also looks different, as toads generally have dry skin covered in “warts” and parotoid glands that secrete a poison to help the toads defend themselves against predators, according to the National Wildlife Federation.
True frogs have smooth, moist skin and pads on their toes to help them climb, according to san diego zoo.
And while toads generally lay their eggs in long strands, true frogs lay their eggs in a cluster that resembles a bunch of grapes, Wildlife Preservation Canada said.
However, not all frogs and toads are easy to distinguish, leading biologists to argue over the definition.
There are some frogs that have skin covered in warts and toads that have smooth, slimy skin, according to the Exploratorium, a San Francisco science museum, in its online exhibit on frogs and toads. And many species will fit equally well into either category.
The frog and toad appearance can also point to your defenses. For example, those with brightly colored bodies are advertising to enemies (including you) that they have toxic skin, the San Diego Zoo said. Frogs and toads with “mottled green or brown colors” use camouflage to hide from predators, the zoo said. One intelligent species, the eastern fire-bellied toad, uses both strategies: Its upper body is a dull green, but when disturbed, this amphibian arches up to reveal a red belly and warn predators that They have toxic skin.
When threatened, toads can also swell their bodies to appear larger and impossible for a hungry predator to swallow, the zoo said.
Originally published on Live Science.
