Keep these fun facts and tips handy for the next time a frog or toad hops up alongside you:

• Approximately 88% of all amphibians belong to the order of Anura (frogs and toads).

• The secretive Gopher Frog (Rana capito) lives in the damp burrows made by gopher tortoises. Unlike other species of frogs it does not live as close to water, but instead spends its time in dry wooded habitats. The gopher frog is nocturnal by nature. Seldom seen, this species is like a ghost! Well…almost. It’s nickname is ‘White Frog,’ due to its light grayish, almost white color (with dark spots). Loss of habitat for the Gopher tortoise has also hurt the Gopher Frog, which is now a ‘Species of Special Concern’ in Florida.

• Frogs use a row of tiny, cone-shaped teeth located on the upper jaw to hold down prey. To swallow meals whole, the eyes sink down and help push food into the throat. As a result, frogs appear to blink when they eat.

• Warts? Don’t worry! Touching a frog or toad will not cause warts. However, some amphibians, such as the Marine Toad, the Cuban Tree Frog, and the River Frog, are known to produce irritating skin secretions. It is wise to sanitize well after handling one of these hoppers. Pet owners need to be especially careful around Marine Toads, since their milky secretion is especially toxic and can potentially kill a dog or a cat which has come in contact with the animals.

• The scientific term, Amphibia comes from the Greek word for ‘double life,’ amphibios. Amphibians, which include frogs, toads, and salamanders, have two life stages. During the tadpole stage, which is aquatic, the animals use gills to breathe. Later, their bodies go through metamorphosis. During this change most species acquire lungs and legs and venture out onto land.

• Dumbo’s not the only one with massive ears. The tympanum, a thin, round membrane located behind each eye helps frogs and toads hear. In some species this “outer ear” is considerably larger than the eye and appears larger on males than on females.

• Once a male frog has attracted a female with his mating call, he mounts the female from behind and locks his front legs tightly around her body. This process is called amplexus. It stimulates the female to release her eggs in the water. The male frog releases sperm over the eggs to fertilize them. The eggs will hatch into tadpoles which later metamorphose into frogs. Usually frogs will lay eggs in clusters, whereas toads will create long chain formations.

Resources for this article have been provided by the University of Florida IFAS Extension, Wikipedia and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.