What makes a toad a toad?

[Kerry1968]

I was watching a nature programme recently and it showed some 1 inch long toads, it got me wondering why are they classified as toads and not frogs? The only difference I know of is the bumpy skin in toads and smooth skin of frogs, there must be more to it than that!

After reading Kurts most recent 'Meet the frog' (a toad commonly called a frog) I thought I'd ask you guys what makes a toad a toad and a frog a frog?

Thank you

[John]

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?

[Kurt]

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

[Kerry1968]

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?

[John]

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

[Kurt]

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

[BlacklightHunter]

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