Difference Between Frog and Toad - Key Distinctions Explained

How often have you pondered about the dissimilarities between a Frog and a Toad? Given their similar body structure and hopping movement, it's easy to confuse one for the other. However, there are several key distinctions that can help you differentiate between a frog and a toad.

Difference Between Frog And Toad

Dissecting the Differences Between Frogs and Toads

Frogs and Toads are part of the same order – Anura, indicating that they share several common traits. However, there are a handful of differences that have led us to categorize them separately.

Learn more: Morphology and Anatomy of Frog

The key differences between Frogs and Toads are outlined below:

The Differences Between Frogs and Toads
Frog	Toad
Eggs
Eggs are laid in clusters	Eggs are laid in long chains.
Tadpoles
Frog tadpoles are slimmer and are gold in colour	Toad tadpoles are chunky and are black in colour
Locomotion
A frog rarely crawls	Toads move around mostly by crawling
Appearance
They are usually lean and slender in appearance	Toads are stubby and shorter than frogs
Texture of Skin
Frogs have smooth and moist skin	Toads have comparatively drier skin and it is bumpy
Habitat
Frogs live in, or nearby water their whole life	Toads are much more adapted to living on dry land
Webbed feet
Frogs possess webbed feet to suit their semi-aquatic nature	Toads generally do not possess webbed feet
Legs
Frogs have longer legs, they can jump higher and further than toads	Toads have relatively shorter legs and can jump, but not as high as frogs

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Wrapping Up

While the differences between frogs and toads are quite clear, it's not always easy to identify them as both can exhibit characteristics of the other. For example, some toads have smooth and moist skin like frogs, and some frogs have dry, bumpy skin like toads. This is because both frogs and toads belong to the same order of vertebrates – Anura.

Further Reading

What is Adaptation?

Migration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between a frog and a toad?

The main differences between frogs and toads are related to their appearance, habitat, and reproduction. Frogs have smooth and moist skin, live near water, and lay eggs in clusters. On the other hand, toads have bumpy and dry skin, can live in dry land, and lay eggs in long chains.

Do frogs and toads belong to the same order?

Yes, both frogs and toads belong to the same order, Anura, which means they share many common features.

Are all frogs and toads easy to distinguish?

Not all frogs and toads are easy to distinguish as both can display characteristics of the other. For instance, there are toads that have smooth and moist skin like a frog and frogs that have bumpy, dry skin like a toad.