Frog or toad? Learn the differences

4 minutes ago
2 min read

Have you ever been walking with a friend and a toad crosses your path? "A frog!," your friend might exclaim. To which you reply, "Well, actually, that's an American toad." Then your friend rolls their eyes and tells you, "Yes, you are correct. It is an American toad, which is a frog."

Close-up of a bumpy-skinned toad resting on a rock. The toad's textured skin has earthy hues. — An American toad. (Photo via Shutterstock)

Wait, what? If a toad is a frog, can a frog be a toad? What is the difference between toads and frogs? Let's check the facts.

The order of amphibians called frogs is known as Anura, which means "without a tail." Frogs that are called toads are in the family Bufonidae. These toads have drier, bumpy and thicker skin. This thick skin allows toads to stray farther from their water source, letting them spend more time on dry land than frogs can stand.

Although they have their differences, frogs and toads (which are technically frogs), have a lot of similarities. They both start their lives in the water as tadpoles, eat a carnivorous diet and sing calls to communicate with others in their species.

Spotted toad on gray pebbles, sitting near a wilted yellow flower. The toad's textured skin blends with the stone background. — A Fowler's toad. (Photo via Shutterstock)

Another thing these amphibians have in common is that they are indicator species extremely vulnerable to pollution. An indicator species reflects the overall health of an ecosystem. If these hopping and jumping amphibians are present, it is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. If they can no longer be found, it is an unwelcome clue that the ecosystem may be harming these amphibians — a cause for concern.

Will County is home to two different species of toad, the American toad and the Fowler's toad. The American toad is more common and more warty and has large kidney-shaped glands on its back. They also have dark spots on their chest and lumpy, bumpy warts on their legs.

Gray toad on wooden surface next to a small dark object. The wood is light brown with visible grain, creating a natural setting. — An American toad next to its impressively large poop. (Photo by Brittany Schaller)

Next time you are out exploring frog (and more specifically) toad habitats, keep an eye out for these amphibians. Will you see a leaping frog? Or a hopping toad — that can actually be called a frog too!?