Toad & Frog Classification
Toads and frogs are among the most diverse animals on earth. Over 4,000 species of these amphibians have been indexed on six of seven continents. Icy Antarctica is the only place too harsh for these adaptable creatures.
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Taxonomy
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While in general use, frogs and toads are classified by a few specific features, there is no defined scientific difference between the two. Both belong to the scientific order Anura, which is from the Latin for "without tail."
Habitat
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Both frogs and toads need water for reproductive purposes, but while frogs are regularly seen swimming, toads are more suited to life on land and can live much further from a water source than frogs can.
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Leg Length
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Frogs, to facilitate movement through swimming and leaping, have longer legs than toads. The toad uses its shorter legs to walk on land.
Skin
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The skin of a toad is thick, dry and often referred to as "warty" because of its bumpy texture. Frogs, however, have very slick skin.
Reproduction
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Toads more often participate in a process called explosive breeding, in which the entire population in an area will reproduce in a very short time period. The breeding habits of frogs, termed prolonged breeding, involve the use of mating calls and mate selection based on territory.
Fun Fact
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Toads have a unique defense mechanism not shared by frogs. Glands on their heads store toxins that are released through the skin when a toad is threatened.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit tree frog image by john barber from Fotolia.com
