About Frogs & Toads

Frogs and toads are the most common amphibians. The adults have bulging eyes, a squat body, and no tail. Frogs have smooth skin and long powerful back legs with webbed feet for jumping and swimming. They normally live in or near water. Toads have a dry, warty skin and shorter legs with less webbing between the toes. They prefer to live on land, except during breeding. You can find both Toads and Frogs around water. They like Swamps, Creeks, streams, Canals, lakes or any place with water. They do not need to be aqautic to like water. Some Toads are Semi-aquatic. Mosquitos and other insects and bugs are attracted to water, So Frogs and Toads go where the food is abundant. Did you know frogs breath through their skin as well as their lungs?!? Tadpoles have gills and a tail, and most feed on algae and vegitation, although a few are carnivorous and may even feed on their siblings. As tadpoles mature, the tail is absorbed, lungs develop, the gills disappear, legs appear, and the adult frog form is established. Some frogs especially in the tropics, do not go through a larval phase; these frogs lay eggs, usually in damp places out of water, they hatch directly into froglets. Did you know: the glandular secrections give some amphibians distinct odors. The Spotted Salamander and the common Toad smell of vanilla! Did you know: Some Frogs smell of onion, and the Firebellied-Toad smells of Garlic. Did you know: The typical amphibian often includes mucous and poison glands. The mucous glands help provide essential moisture to the body. Did you know: The protective poison glands are quite often located in different places on different species--by the ears in certain toads, and behind the eyes of salamanders. Did you know: The glands that produce poisons are toxic to natural enemies, such as birds and small mammals, but rarely to humans!