Toad vs Frog: The Six Key Differences Explained

So what is the difference between toads vs frogs? Well, Toads and frogs are both amphibians, which means they share similarities such as spending at least part of their lives in water or some moist place, and they usually lack tails, scales, and claws on their feet. Both are members of the Anura order. Anura is a Greek word that means “tailless” even though there are frogs that seem to have tails.

After that, what separates a frog from a toad is surprisingly uncertain. Indeed, to scientists, there’s no real difference between toads vs frogs. There are between 2000 and 7100 species of frogs and toads, and though all toads are frogs, all frogs aren’t toads, usually. The differences are decided in what is called folk taxonomy.

According to folk taxonomy, frogs stay close to bodies of water or wet places, while toads can be found even in deserts. Toads tend to have skin that is famously warty or rough, while the skin of frogs is smooth and often slimy. Toads tend to be squatter and can’t jump as well as frogs, who often have long hind legs made for leaping. The eyes of toads are larger as well.

In general, frogs are longer than toads, and the biggest frog in the world is the Goliath frog, which can grow to over a foot in length. In contrast, the biggest toad in the world is the cane toad, which can grow to 9.4 inches.

The main differences between frogs and toads are examined in greater detail below:

The Six Key Differences Between Frog vs Toad

Six differences between Toad vs Frog are:

1. Frog vs Toad: Skin

Toads have drier, rougher skin and “warts” that cover their parotid glands. These are glands on the animals’ skin that secrete bufotoxins to deter predators. The warts are not real warts, which are caused by viruses, but simply part of a healthy toad’s physiology. The skin of frogs is smoother and can be slimy. Because their skin needs to stay moist, frogs tend to keep close to a body of water.

2. Frog vs Toad: Legs

The legs of a frog are much longer than those of a toad and may even be longer than the frog’s body. This allows them to jump great distances and swim quickly. A toad’s hind legs tend to be shorter than its body, which makes it look squat and fat. To get around, they crawl or make little hops. Sometimes a toad simply walks. Some frogs have been known to walk, too.

3. Frog vs Toad: Eggs

That frogs and toads need a body of water or a wet place to mate and lay their eggs is one of their similarities. Yet, a person can tell the difference between frog and toad eggs because frog eggs are laid in clumps in the water, and toad eggs are laid in long ribbons that can sometimes get tangled up in aquatic plants. Frog eggs are called frog spawn while toad eggs are called toad spawn.

4. Frog vs Toad: Color

Frogs tend to come in many more colors than toads. The most brilliantly colored frogs include the poison dart frogs of South America. The bad news is that their amazing colors let would-be predators know that they are extremely toxic. The beautiful golden poison frog has enough poison in its skin to kill between 10 and 20 grown men. But the poisonous skin of the rather drab-looking common toad can also be deadly if the toad is eaten or even handled without precautions. Poison skin is another one of the similarities shared by toads and frogs.

5. Frog vs Toad: Habitat

Frogs basically live in water, though the great majority have lungs and can leave the water for a time. You can find frogs in rainforests, swamps, frozen tundras, and even deserts. Toads live on land and return to water to breed. Various toad species can be found on every continent of the Earth except Antarctica. Toads like moist areas such as grasslands and fields.

6. Frog vs Toad: Tadpoles

Like their parents, the tadpoles of toads vs frogs are different. Frog tadpoles are longer and skinnier than toad tadpoles, which tend to be short and fat. Toad tadpoles are black, while frog tadpoles are flecked with gold.

Summary

Here are the ways in which Frog vs Toad are different:

Are Toads Good for the Garden?

Toads, as well as frogs, are a great addition to your garden and make excellent ‘gardeners’. They are a natural way to get rid of unwanted pests. Toads and frogs will consume a multitude of undesirable creatures, from beetles, caterpillars, and cutworms to mosquitoes, grubs, slugs, and snails. Just one frog is able to eat over 100 insects per night, while the American toad is able to eat over 1,000 insects.

Toads and frogs are unable to thrive in certain environments, especially those that are heavy with pollutants. To see either of these amphibians in your garden is an excellent indicator that you have a healthy, clean ecosystem.