What is the Difference Between Frogs and Toads?

Frogs and toads are both amphibians belonging to the order Anura, but they have some differences in appearance, habitat, and behavior. Here are the main differences between frogs and toads:

1. Appearance: Frogs have smooth, somewhat slimy skin, long legs made for hopping, and big, bulging eyes. Toads, on the other hand, have dry, warty skin, shorter legs more suitable for walking, and smaller, less bulging eyes. Toad spawn floats in stringy lengths, while frog spawn is laid in gooey clumps.
2. Habitat: Frogs typically spend more time in the water or very close to it, so their skin stays moist. Toads, however, spend more time on land and travel further from water. This difference in habitat is the reason for their differences in skin texture and moisture levels.
3. Behavior: Frogs usually use their long, strong legs to leap into the water when approached, while toads are more likely to sit still and wait it out. If toads do jump away, their jumps are shorter than frogs'.
4. Poisonous: All toads are poisonous, while frogs are not. Toads have parotoid glands behind their eyes that produce toxic substances.
5. Tongue: Frogs have sticky, long tongues they can use to reach out for food, while toads do not have such long tongues and must walk up to their food to devour it.

In summary, frogs and toads have differences in appearance, habitat, behavior, poisonous characteristics, and tongue length. These differences are mostly related to their typical environments and lifestyles.

Comparative Table: Frogs vs Toads

Here is a table summarizing the differences between frogs and toads:

Please note that these differences are generalizations and there are exceptions due to the vast variety of frog and toad species, each with different characteristics.