What makes a toad a toad?

Toads are frogs. In the case of the Panamanian Golden Frog, it's actually a toad because it's a member of the "True Toad" family, Bufonidae. Members of that family have ~dry skin and a generally similar body plan, giving them that "toad" look. Where things start to get dodgy (and where your query is most applicable) is with frogs like the Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad. These are in a different family altogether but they get called toads because of their very warty skin and their hopping approach to movement, rather than jumping. Still confusing though, isn't it?

To add to the confusion, I present the Suriname toad, a frog that is in the family Pipidae. Pipidae also includes such familiar frogs as the African clawed frog and the dwarf clawed frog.

Then there is Microhylidae, who's member are either called narrow-mouth frogs or narrow-mouthed toads, depending who you are talking too.

Also, there is Brachycephalidae, the saddle-backed toads.

Remember, toad is just a word

Thanks, I'm even more confused now!

So basically, the toad/frog it gets classified into it's family type based on it's look? Such as the Bufonidae looking frogs with Bufonidae characteristics gets classified as that type?

Common names are not classification. Common names really don't mean that much.

Exactly. That was the point I was trying to make, maybe I should've made it more clearer.

I was talking to Kerry.

Very interesting thread.
I always used to wonder about the bombina genus, I thought the were very frog-like for a toad.
When I was younger I got a book for christmas called The Terrarium by Harald Jes.
In it there was a picture of an African Bullfrog, though the caption said it was a pyxie toad. Left me confused for quite sometime.

Originally Posted by John

I was talking to Kerry.

I know. I was just stating that you said it better than I, thats all.

Every time I show my male African Bullfrog to people they think he's a toad. Sad really - he's much more handsome!

Thanks for the clarification, I understand now!

Originally Posted by John

Every time I show my male African Bullfrog to people they think he's a toad. Sad really - he's much more handsome!

Good thing my Bufonids can't read, as they would most likely take offense to that comment.

When I was a kid I thought that tadpoles would be toads and pollywoggs would be frogs lol.

Too funny.

What's a pollywog?

Another name for tadpole.