Grumpy Toad at Milham Park by Bill’s Pictures

In a post the other day I included a photo of a frog that someone had captioned as a toad. I will always use your captions when I share your photos because it’s your photo so you can call it whatever you want, but for some reason that upset a reader. For that grumpy reader, and also for all of you, here’s a little more about the difference between frogs & toads thanks to this Michigan State University article:

Frogs and toads (also collectively called anurans, referring to the tailless frogs and toads of the Order Anura) are members of the class Amphibia … Renowned Michigan Herpetologist James H. Harding describes the distinction, in general, in the following manner: Toads are warty skinned, short-legged, hopping anurans. Due to their short hind legs, toads get around by short hops or walk rather than long leaps. Toads are also commonly described as having thicker skin, possibly because they are adapted to drier conditions than frogs. Frogs are smoother-skinned, long-legged, leaping anurans.

While there are over 3,500 anuran species around the world, there are only 13 species in Michigan. They are organized into three groups:

• True Toads: terrestrial or burrowing with relatively thick, warty skin and short legs like the Eastern American Toad pictured.
• Treefrogs and relatives: many like the Gray Treefrog have expanded sticky toe pads that allow them to climb trees and shrubs. Others like the ubiquitous Northern Spring Peeper stick to the surface.
• Typical or “True” Frogs: are what many consider “normal” frogs, typically with long legs, smooth skin on their backs, and low-pitched “croaking” calls like the Green Frog (often confused for a Bullfrog) and the Northern Leopard Frog.

Bill shared this photo he took yesterday in the Michigan in Pictures group on Facebook. Follow Bill’s Pictures for his latest!