Amphibians are tetrapods i.e. four limbs vertebrates that have a relatively higher body temperature internally. It belongs to the phylum Vertebrae and the class of Amphibia.
Key Takeaways
- Frogs have smooth, moist skin, while toads have dry, bumpy skin.
- Frogs have long, strong hind legs for jumping and swimming, whereas toads have shorter, less muscular legs for walking and hopping.
- Frogs generally live near water and lay eggs in clusters, while toads can live in drier environments and lay eggs in long chains.
Frog vs Toad
The difference between frogs and Toad is that frogs have long legs, which allows them to hop and jump. Toads have small legs in comparison to Frogs, and they crawl or move slowly. They can’t jump or hop. A toad can be called a frog because it can develop into. But a frog can’t be called a toad. Frog has very wet, slimy skin, whereas toads have very dry skin, and they look bumpy and fat.
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Frog is the tailless amphibians that are thin and slimy than toads. Largely they are carnivorous and belong to the order of Anura. Frogs are among the five most diverse vertebrates.
Toad is a member of Bufoniade, which are also called a true toad. They have dry skin, short legs, a bumpy body that covers the parotid glands.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Frog | Toad |
|---|---|---|
| Locomotion | Jumps or Hops | Crawls |
| Appearance | Lean and slender | Stubby, bumpy and short |
| Habitat | Lives in water | Lives inland |
| Eggs | In clusters | In chains |
| Feet | Webbed feet | Do not have webbed feet |
What is Frog?
Frog comes from the Old English word ‘frogga’, which means animal tail, and it belongs to the order of Anura. The fossil of frogs was first discovered in Madagascar, which dates back to 265 million years ago.
Frogs belong to various families like Hylidae, Microhylidae, Craugastoridae, and Bufonidae, which are very rich in species. The skin of the frogs are very protective, and they function as a respiratory organ.
They are cold-blooded animals which means they can regulate the temperature. The defensive mechanism which is used by frogs is called camouflage, in which they blend themselves according to the situation and remains undetected.
What is Toad?
Toads also belong to the order of Anura, and they are the member of Bufonidae.
It is believed that Bufoniade originated in South America when there was a breakup of Gondwana some 70-90 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period.
Toads are usually toothless and have a pair of glands at the back of heads called parotid glands. These glands, when excreted, release poison, causing different effects.
570 species of the Bufoniade family has been found, which belong to 52 genera. Common toad or European toads can be found in almost every part of Europe, North-west Africa and north-Asia except in Ireland, Iceland and the Mediterranean.
Main Differences Between Frog and Toad
- Eggs laid by frogs are in clusters. Eggs laid by toads are in chains.
- Frogs have webbed feet, which helps them in semi-aquatic conditions. Toads do not possess webbed feet.
- http://www.lee.net/app/awards/2013/spirit/finalists/Casper%20exhibits/MyTrib9.17.pdf
- https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1890/03-5408
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
