Todds and Frongs

Michael Elay

English 10

Mrs. Williams

September 29, 2015

Shades of Amphibians

Most of society find it challenging to distinguish a frog from a toad because a frog is called a toad, and vice versa. Although frogs and toads are amphibians, frogs belong to the family Ranidae, and toads belong to the family Bufonidae. The amphibians are slimy creatures and some of them leap up-and-down while others creep and have warts. Sometimes you do not notice them around, and other times they are everywhere. Although the frog and the toad are so similar in appearance, they have many differences, too.

Frogs come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. For instance, their skin is misty and smooth. Their eyes are bulging with color ranges from “gray to greenish, brown, yellowish, or red with few to many spots of reddish brown or black” (“Ranidae Amphibian Family”). Overall, frogs have no tails and their strong webbed rear feet aids in jumping and swimming. According to, Christine Dell'Amore, frogs have teeth on their upper jaw, which are “small cone teeth.” Additionally, Christine Dell’Amore states that frogs have teeth on the top of their mouth. Many frogs are marine, but some do live on land, in dens, or in trees. Their camouflage ability to change colors or blended with their backgrounds, which helps to protect them. Although frogs and toads have many similar characteristic, a few specific details will help one to determine their differences.

Toads also can be described in many shapes, sizes, color, and textures. However, unlike the frog, the toad has warty skin and chubby bodies. The bulging eyes comes from the glands, which are poisons and located in the back of their eyes, and their color ranges from “brownish or grayish in color” (“Toads”). The eyes of a toad have a sloping, pupil. Their toes are somewhat webbed, and they, too do not have tails. Their back legs are smaller for walking. Toads do not have teeth (“Toads”). Although Toads breed in water,...