Frogs and Toads

I've been illustrating all kinds of TN wildlife again, and along the way I've learned the differences between frogs and toads.  I have illustrated one of each:

American Toad

 watercolor

(for those interested.....)

Frogs:

• Need to live near water
• Have smooth, moist skin that makes them look “slimy”.
• Have a narrow body 
• Have higher, rounder, bulgier eyes
• Have longer hind legs 
• Belong to the family Ranidae
• Have many predators

Toads:

• Do not need to live near water to survive
• Have rough, dry, bumpy skin
• Have a wider body
• Have lower, football shaped eyes
• Have shorter, less powerful hind legs
• Belong to the family Bufonidae
• Do not have many predators.  Toad’s skin lets out a bitter taste and smell that burns the eyes and nostrils of its predators, much like a skunk does.