Frog or toad?
How to tell them apart
Toads are frogs with drier, rougher, wartier skin that live more on land. The split is informal and doesn’t match scientific classification.
Quick answers
They differ on 1 of the 8 quick answers: do people eat it.
| Question | Frog | Toad |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Amphibian | Amphibian |
| Carnivore? | Insects only | Insects only |
| Dangerous? | Can be | Can be |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? | Night | Night |
| Hibernates? | Yes | Yes |
| Kept as a pet? | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Do people eat it? differs | Yes | No |
At a glance
| Question | Frog | Toad |
|---|---|---|
| Found in | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Habitat differs | Wetland, Rivers & lakes, Rainforest | Forest, Grassland, Wetland |
| Size differs | Tiny | Small |
| Length differs | – | Up to about 15 cm (common toad) |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Skin | Skin |
| Lives differs | In groups | Alone |
| Lives for differs | 4–15 years | 10–12 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | Yes | Yes |
About each
Frog
Tailless, short-bodied amphibians, making up about 88% of all amphibian species. Most start life as tadpoles in water, and “toads” are simply frogs with drier, wartier skin.
Toad
A common name for frogs with short legs and dry, warty skin, especially the true toads. The “warts” are glands, and it’s a myth that handling a toad gives you warts.
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.