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Have you ever wondered why a toad and a frog appear to be so similar? What is the difference between a toad and a frog? To be completely accurate, toads are actually a classification of frogs. Frogs and toads both are members of the Anura order, which means they have a lot in common. Although there are few differences between them. Here are a few key differences between Frogs and Toads.
What is a Frog?
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- Frogs belong to the Ranidae family. Any member of the Anura order, a diversified and predominantly carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians, is referred to as a frog.
- This subspecies can be found on every continent in the world. Antarctica, on the other hand, is the only continent without frogs. The eggs of frogs are usually laid in water. Tadpoles are aquatic larvae with tails and internal gills that hatch from the eggs. Their rasping mouthparts are highly specialized for herbivorous, omnivorous, or planktivorous diets.
- Their life cycle is completed when they reach adulthood. Only a few species lay their eggs on land, and some skip the tadpole stage altogether. Adult frogs eat small invertebrates as a carnivorous diet, however omnivore species exist, and a few feed on plant stuff.
- The microbiota of frog skin is vital for their health. Frogs are particularly good at converting their food into body mass.
- The skin of frogs is wet and silky. Frogs have teeth in their upper jaw as well.
- Most critically, their eyeballs protrude further than a toad's do.
- They have longer hind legs.
What is a Toad?
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- The Bufonidae family includes toads.
- They have short, inflexible bodies, a broad head, two front limbs, and two back legs, similar to frogs.
- However, a deeper examination reveals significant variances that serve to distinguish them.
- The toad's skin is both dry and rough.
- It also has warts on its entire body.
- They don't have any teeth.
- In addition, when compared to frogs, toads' rear legs are shorter.
- According to scientific categorization, toads belong to the families Bufonidae, Myobatrachidae, Pelobatidae, Rhinophrynidae, Bombinatoridae, Calyptocephalellidae, Discoglossidae, Scaphiopodidae, and Microhylidae.
- The bumps that cover the parotid glands are usually the largest on a toad's skin. The bumps are usually referred to as warts, although they are not pathologic warts because they are fixed in size, appear on healthy specimens, and are not caused by infection.
- Toads migrate from non-breeding areas of ponds and lakes to breeding sites.
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Difference between Frog and Toad
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| Basics of comparison | Frog | Toad |
|---|---|---|
| Family | They belong to the Ranidae family | They belong to the Bufonidae family |
| Skin | The skin of frogs is smooth and sleek, and their skin appears wet despite the fact that they are out of water. | Toads have warty skin that is covered with little lumps and bumps, and their skin is always dry. |
| Skin moisture | Frogs lose moisture more quickly than other animals, thus they are rarely observed far from water, which explains why they constantly appear moist. | Toads can withstand dry circumstances considerably better than frogs because their skin is more waterproof. |
| Legs | Frogs have lengthy legs that are longer than their heads and bodies, allowing them to hop. | Toads, on the other hand, have significantly shorter legs and prefer to crawl rather than jump when they move around. |
| Shape | Frogs have a lean and athletic appearance. | Toads have a squat and dumpy appearance. |
| Faces | The nose of a frog is pointed. | The noses of toads are substantially larger. |
| Spawn | The spawn of frogs is laid in gooey clumps. | Stringy lengths of toad spawn float in the water. |
| Webbed feet | Frogs have webbed feet to accommodate their semi-aquatic lifestyle. | Toads do not have webbed feet in general. |
| Tadpoles | slim and gold-colored | The colour is chunky and black. |
| Parotid glands | Absent | Present |
| Food | Insects, worms, snails, small fish, spiders, and other creatures | Insects, slugs, grubs, worms, and other invertebrates |
| Length and width | The average length of a frog is 6-9 cm, but this varies according to the variety. | Their length is 10 to 13 centimeters (5-6 inches) and their breadth is 7 centimeters. |
Tadpoles
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Frogs and toads reproduce by laying eggs, which hatch into tadpoles, which are aquatic larvae. Tadpoles have internal gills and tails, as well as mouthparts that are extremely specialized.
The life cycle is completed when they metamorphosis into adults. A tadpole, often known as a pollywog, is a totally aquatic creature, while some amphibian tadpoles can be terrestrial.
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Things to Remember Based on Frog and Toad
- Toads have smooth and wet skin.
- Frogs have rough, dry skin.
- They are both members of the Anura vertebrate order.
- Amphibians are creatures that can live on land as well as in water.
- Frogs live in water or nearby water whereas toads live on land.
- The main difference between a frog and a toad is that frogs are more aquatic whereas toads are more terrestrial.
Important Questions Based on Frog and Toad
Ques: What is the lifespan of a toad and a frog? (1 mark)
Ans: The lifespan of a frog and a toad are similar. Frogs and toads live for 7 to 14 years on average, with some living to reach 40 years old.
Ques: Are frogs poisonous? (1 mark)
Ans: Yes, some frogs, such as 'golden poison frogs,' are extremely poisonous and can kill up to ten men.
Ques: What is the lifespan of a frog and a toad? (1 mark)
Ans: The lifespan of a frog and a toad are the same. Frogs and toads live for 7 to 14 years on average, with some living to reach 40 years old.
Ques: How to find if a tadpole is a frog or a toad? (2 marks)
Ans: Frog tadpoles are slimmer than their adult counterparts, whereas toad tadpoles are bulky. Frog tadpoles have gold flecks on them as well, whereas toad tadpoles are black. Tadpoles of frogs have a narrow tail and a dark colour with yellow speckles. Tadpoles from toads are larger and black in colour.
Ques: What are the similarities between frogs and toads? (2 marks)
Ans: Toads and frogs have a lot of characteristics. Both are amphibians belonging to the Anura order, which means "without a tail." Toads are a subcategory of frogs, which means that while all toads are frogs, not all frogs are toads. They both reproduce in water and have a similar appearance.
Ques: Is it possible for frogs and toads to come into contact? Do they battle for a while if they're around the same size, or do they try to avoid each other at all costs? (2 marks)
Ans: They're actually quite placid and don't show any symptoms of aggression toward one another. So I wouldn't call it a fight, and they don't appear to go out of their way to avoid each other.
Ques: How can you tell the difference between a frog and a toad sound? (3 marks)
Ans: Only the male frog has the ability to croak. They have a tiny sac in their throats that vibrates as they exhale, causing the air to vibrate. Toads make croaking, quacking, or chirping sounds depending on their intentions, which can range from mating to territorial defense.
Ques: Is it true that all frogs are toads, but not all toads are frogs? (5 marks)
Ans: They date from a time when they were supposed to be distinct, but research has since shown that they are neither as distinct nor as unified within each group as we once assumed. In modern usage, the term "frog" has evolved to refer to the entire Order Anura, hence all four-legged tailless amphibians of the "modern" lineage are called frogs. There was a period when two genera, Rana and Bufo, were regarded as "genuine frogs" and "true toads," respectively. However, genetic analysis and other criteria have revealed that "Rana" and "Bufo" are not so "uniform" in their members, and the two genera have been split up into many genera, making it a complete mess when trying to assign "true toad/frog" to a plethora of different groups, and these references have fallen. Anurans with a rough or warty aspect to their skin, often of terrestrial habit but not necessarily, are referred to as "toads." As a result, while all Anurans can be considered frogs, only a small subset is referred to as toads due to their appearance.
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