Identification

• toad image by Radoslav Lazarov from Fotolia.com
  
  It is often possible to tell frogs and toads apart by looking at their physical characteristics. In general, frogs have smooth, moist skin, while a toad's skin tends to be dry and covered in bumps that resemble warts. Frogs have longer legs that allow them to leap, while toads have limited hopping abilities because of their short legs; toads usually make their way around by crawling. Though they lack necks, all frogs and toads have protruding eyes that allow them to see in all directions without moving their heads.
  
  

Diet

• frog image by Dwight Davis from Fotolia.com
  
  Frog and toads are carnivores, which means they eat other animals. With their long, sticky tongues, frogs and toads trap a variety of insects, spiders, slugs and worms, and draw them into their wide mouths. Some of the larger species also eat small rodents, such as mice, and even other amphibians. Frogs and toads do not have teeth; therefore they must swallow their prey whole. Rather than drinking water with their mouths, many frogs absorb it through their skin.
  
  

Habitat

• desert spotted frog sitting on a rock image by James Insogna from Fotolia.com
  
  Frogs and toads are found in virtually all types of habitats, from tropical to arid. Though there are exceptions, frogs tend to live in near water and in moist environments, while toads are generally found in drier regions, including some deserts.
  
  

Reproduction and Development

• Poisonous frog, Ronario Frog Pond, Costa Rica image by Oren Sarid from Fotolia.com
  
  Like most amphibians, frogs and toads begin their lives underwater. Adult females lay their eggs in water, which hatch anywhere between 14 and 23 days later. In some species, the male parent transports and cares for the eggs. The babies, known as tadpoles, have long tails and breathe through gills the way fish do. Depending on the species, it can take a tadpole anywhere from two months to a year to become an adult. In the process, known as metamorphosis, the tadpoles lose their tail and gills and develop legs and lungs that allow them to live on land.
  
  

Warning

• poison toad image by vla from Fotolia.com
  
  You won't get warts from touching a toad, but some species of frogs found in the rain forests of Central and South America are poisonous and therefore very dangerous. An adult human can die by just holding a poisonous frog, which can usually be identified by its bright colors.