Photo Source: Alexa Elliott

FROGS VS TOADS
Can you tell the difference? At first glance, frogs and toads may look the same, but a closer look reveals each has unique physical characteristics. The most obvious is the skin. Toads have dry, bumpy skin, whereas frogs possess a smoother, moist or even “slimy” complexion. Frogs have slender, narrow bodies; and they grow long, powerful jumping legs. Some frogs, like the pig or the bull frog, use webbed-feet to swim. Most Tree frogs have large toe-pads that help them climb. Toads, on the other hand, are stockier in build and use short hind legs to hop. It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish toads from frogs, since in other parts of the world there are toads that climb trees and frogs that hop rather than leap. Therefore the use of the common names “frog” or “toad” has no taxonomic justification.

AMPHIBIAN ADVANTAGE
They may eat your pet food or keep you up at night, but frogs and toads are more than just backyard companions. These wide-eyed critters serve as a food source for a variety of wildlife, making them an important link in the food chain. Wading birds, snakes, and fish are among the many species that prey on frogs and toads. Annoyed by pesky mosquitoes and other bugs? Not these guys! Frogs and toads love to munch on mosquitoes and practically anything else that fits into their mouths. As adults, these amphibians feed on various insects, worms, snails and even smaller frogs. Tadpoles mainly eat algae and other plant matter, though some also consume mosquito larvae.

Photo Source: Steve Johnson

CALLING ALL MATES
“Ribbit” is so passé. Florida’s hoppers and climbers are known to make a variety of unique sounds. If farm animals are your thing, then you’ll love the Pig Frog. Its loud grunts sound like a pig! It is indeed so loud, that northern visitors to Florida often confuse its call with that of an alligator. The Green Treefrog’s nickname is ‘Cowbell’ frog because its call is reminiscent of the barnyard instrument of the same name. Hear busy chatter after a rainfall? It’s not what you think. The Squirrel Treefog is capable of mimicking the sounds of our favorite bushy-tailed mammals, squirrels. Then there’s the Florida Cricket Frog, whose call sounds like marbles clicking against each other, and the Southern Spring Peeper, which utters a high-pitched, slurred peep that is repeated frequently. Frogs and toads mainly use these auditory responses to attract a mate. However, calls are also made to fend off competition or when predators are near. To make a call, a frog’s mouth and nostrils are kept shut as air is squeezed past the vocal cords. Its large balloon-like, vocal sac, located beneath the throat expands and functions as a resonating chamber to amplify the sound.
 
SUPER SKIN
Amphibians possess highly permeable skin, which makes them good indicators of water quality and other environmental factors, but also puts them at risk due to their high susceptibility to toxins. Frogs may not have super-hero powers, but they can disappear…somewhat. Beneath their skin lies a thin layer of dark pigment cells that react to a variety of changes in the environment. On a cold day, frogs may appear darker because their cells expand to absorb more sunlight to stay warm. Conversely, warm weather results in a lighter-toned frog, whose cells have shrunk to reflect the sun’s rays to stay cool.

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