Frogs and Toads

Although both amphibians, frogs and toads have several basic anatomical differences between them. The smooth, moist skin characteristic of frogs covers long legs specialized for jumping and swimming. (It is these musclebound limbs that give the Edible frog, left, its name.) The skin of toads like the Green toad, right, is dry and covered by knobby glandular projections often referred to as “warts.” With relatively short legs, toads lack the jumping ability and range of frogs.

One toad genus includes more than 70 different species. These are widely distributed over the major landmasses of the world except Greenland, Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand, but are most abundant in tropical regions.

Midwife Toad with Eggs

The European midwife toad has an atypical mode of reproduction. Following mating the male carries the egg strands attached to his legs for 20 to 50 days, during which he regularly moistens the eggs. Eventually he deposits them permanently in water, where they hatch and develop into adult toads.