Welcome to Joey’s Animals Facts. This time we are focusing on the frogs.
What is the difference between frogs and toads? Surprisingly they are not two separate groups. All toads are actually types of frogs known as “true toads“ as opposed to “true frogs” which is made up of all the other non toady frogs!
True frogs are known for their bulging eyes, strong, long, webbed hind feet adapted for leaping and swimming, smooth or slimy skin as they usually like moister environments and the tendency to lay eggs in clusters.
True Toads on the other hand are characterised by stubby bodies with short hind legs which they usually use to walk and not hop, warty and dry skin as they tend to preferring dryer climates, poison glands behind the eyes, a different chest cartilage and the tendency to lay their eggs in long chains, although some even bear live young.
These physical distinctions, however, can easily get confused as these features can be mixed or less obvious. Certain frogs even easily be placed into both groups. It is not uncommon, for instance, to find a warty skinned frog that isn’t a toad, or even a slimy toad!
Regulars will know that we like a biggest / smallest factoid.
The biggest frog in the world is the Goliath frog from Cameroon in West Africa. Their bodies can reach the size of nearly 30 cm, with their legs being at least that long – that’s the length of a ruler. The Goliath frog can weigh as much as your pet cat (3.3 kg).
There are two frogs vying for the title of the worlds smallest frog. In the Southern Hemisphere it is the Brazilian or Gold Frog. Gold Frogs grow to less than a centimetre (9.8 mm) in body length. Equally small is the smallest frog in the Northern Hemisphere. It was discovered only 18 years ago in Cuba and doesn’t have a common name yet, but its scientific name is Eleutherodactylus iberia.
Finally i will leave you with a a question:
What do you call a group of frogs?
An ARMY of Frogs!