I am not sure how to tell the difference between a frog and a toad, but we found this little beast (and a whole army more) on a hike yesterday at Hinckley Reservation. (A group of frogs is an army or a knot.)
Frog or Toad?
In my limited world, if it was brown, it was a toad. This cutie is brown, but my best guess is that it is not a toad and is a frog. Here are some frog characteristics from Answers.com:
- Frogs have finer bodies with narrower waists while toads’ bodies are broader.
- When on a flat surface, frogs lie flat, but toads tend to sit upright.
- Frogs have feet which are specially structured to act as suction caps to enable them to climb trees and other surfaces.
- Frogs have slimy, slippery and delicate skin, but toads have drier skin with warts.
- Generally, frogs live near water. Toads tend to live away from water.
It was more slender than most toad that I have seen. It did hug the ground, and the toes seemed to have flat tips. It didn’t have a warty skin. It was right next to the reservoir.
Did I mention that it was really tiny?
It IS Tiny
So, are you with me? Is it a frog?
Rosemarie Hanus makes beads in her home studio, but has never made a frog bead. See these “not frog” beads at Etsy, Art Fire, or her Spawn of Flame website.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:25 am
Sounds like he fits the frog description– but, then, I never could manage to tell the difference 🙂
June 1st, 2009 at 10:33 am
I’m thinking it’s a frog. Toads seem more rounded and lumpy. This little guy is so cute and tiny, maybe tinier than a Spring Peeper frog? I like that he sat still for his portrait. 😉
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 am
We encountered several of these on the path. We finally turned around and went back because we were afraid that we were stepping on some.