The difference between a frog and toad is that the princess would never have kissed a toad!

There is nothing quite as shocking as the day you find out that toads are frogs. It’s like finding out that your father isn’t really your father – how can an established fact be torn down like this!?

A lot of folks come to this page after searching for “what is the difference between frogs and toads” or “difference between frog and toad,” well here we pull back the curtain on the world of amphibians to establish the truth behind the frog toad difference – there isn’t one.

Now then, now then, perhaps saying there isn’t one is a bit of a simplification so let’s take a more detailed look.

Scientifically speaking…
For an accurate scientific answer we need to consider how animals are classified. Firstly, there is a class of animal known as “amphibian” which has three orders, one of these orders is “anura.”

Anura is made up of what are commonly known as frogs and toads, but scientifically there is no distinction between the two, instead there are 20-25 families within anura each with its own characteristics.

Of these 20 or so families, the bufonidae family has around 300 species with the characteristics that we consider to be toad-like. Scientists, however, focus on the distinct characteristics of each of the 20 or so families, and don’t focus on the differences between the bufonidae and other families.

Practically speaking…
There are some physical differences that have led to us having the separate terms frog and toad, one that is clear for all to see is that frogs are beautiful, and toads are ugly!

Frogs have smooth skin, long limbs, and like to live near the water, whereas toads are stumpy-bodied, short-legged creatures, have a skin rough with warts, and prefer damp climates away from water. The difference between frog and toad is that the princess would never have kissed a toad!

Whilst some frogs are poisonous to touch, it is toads that are renowned for having pockets of poison behind their eyes. Furthermore, a toad’s eyes tend to be quite withdrawn when compared to the bulbous eyes of a frog. When it comes to reproduction frogs lay their eggs in clusters, whilst toads lay their eggs in a long string.

Finally, if one wants a clever answer to the question “what is the difference between frog and toad?” look no further than Nectophrynoides – a type of toad found in Tanzania. This toad is the only one of the anura to be viviparous i.e. fertilization is internal, and the females give birth to live young. Now that’s something that no frog can do, unless of course you are scientist that uses the generic term “frog” to include the bufonidae family!

Click for more on all kinds of amphibians.