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Frogs and toads mostly differ in their portrayals in fairy tales. According to most fairy tales, if you kiss a frog you can turn him into a prince, whereas kissing a toad would result in warts appearing all over your body. The physical differences are not always so clear cut.
Together frogs and toads comprise the largest group of amphibians. Both frogs and toads come into the world from eggs, hatching as tadpoles. These fish-like tadpoles experience a metamorphosis. During this period of change, a frog or toad sprouts legs and their fish-like tails disappear. Frogs and toads also have the ability to breathe through their skins, the lungs also undergo change during this metamorphosis period.
Telling the difference between a frog and toad can be difficult. There are some basic guidelines to follow in identifying each species. A frog belongs to the class Rana and toads are in the Bufo class. Frogs tend to spend most of their time in water, whereas toads tend to be land dwellers. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. Toads are generally well camouflaged to blend in with their in environment; toads will likely appear as a mushroom or stone. Frogs in general are brighter in color.
This color difference affects how each animal hunts. Toads use their camouflage to assist them in hunting. They wait for the prey to pass by before attacking. Frogs tend to be more active, leaping forward to pull in the prey. Toads are more likely to walk than hop, whereas frogs hop almost exclusively.
The skin of a toad is drier and has a warty appearance; the skin of the frog is moister and smooth. Most people persist in spreading the myth that when you touch a toad, you can contract warts. This is untrue. In fact, you are more likely to harm the toad by touching it than the toad harming you. Amphibian skin is very sensitive. The skin is a vital organ in which the animal can absorb moisture from the environment. It cannot afford to be subjected to infections or chemicals that you may have on your skin. Even your sweat can be toxic to these animals. These are not cuddly pets; in fact handling is more than a mere annoyance to these animals.
Some common frogs that people have as pets include the White’s tree frog, and the Pac-Man Frog. Potential pet owners are attracted to the tree frog because of its color. The tree frog is a vivid shade of green with delicate fee that stick to the side of the aquarium or branches. This frog is very well suited for captivity and can live 20 to 25 years. The Pac-man frog is another species of frogs popular among animal lovers. The name is derived from the he fact that the mouth of these frogs takes up their entire body. These frogs can get huge, as big as a dinner plate. They are voracious eaters and eat virtually anything in front of them. They have been known to eat mice and baby rabbits.
Some toads that are commonly kept as pets are the American toad and the Giant toad. The American toad is brown or gray. The toad will eat anything that will fit into its mouth and it is known for its musical mating call, which can last up to thirty seconds. The Giant toad is another toad that is a favorite among pet lovers. It is indeed giant; it can grown up to eight inches long and is very heavy. This toad is greenish-brown and covered with bumps. It has glands that can secrete a very toxic poison. The Giant toad is responsible for the death of many dogs. This toad will come into yards and eat the dog’s food. If the dog would grab the toad it would be immediately poisoned.
The differences between the frog and the toad are minute. The physical guidelines given are the basics that you will need to know at a glance how to tell the difference. In depth study would require a taxonomy class.
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