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Frogs and toads
Frogs and toads are amphibious members of the Anura clade, meaning those ‘without a tail’. When trying to differentiate them one might hear that ever-confusing sentence ‘All toads are frogs...but not all frogs are toads!’
Essentially, toads are a subgrouping of frogs characterised by drier, leathery skin and short legs. These creatures demonstrate some of the most extraordinary adaptations in the animal kingdom; translucent frogs with visible internal organs, poison dart frogs with lethal toxins and flying frogs gliding over 15 m on webbed feet. Toads are no less exceptional, think for example of female Suriname toads allowing fertilised eggs sink into pockets in their skin, to emerge as fully-formed toadlets. The life cycle displayed here (right) is that of Alytes obstetricians, the common midwife toad. This toad got its name because during the breeding season the male carries strings of eggs wrapped around his hind legs, and cares for them until they are ready to hatch.