APPEARANCE

Toads are characterized by: stubby bodies with short hind legs, warty and dry skin (usually preferring dryer climates), and prominent bony ridges on top of their heads with conspicuous swellings (parotoid glands) behind the eyes. The physical distinctions of toads to frogs, can easily get blurred because sometimes the features appear mixed or less obivious, and certain species even legitimately fall into both categories. It is not uncommon to find a warty skinned frog that isn't a toad. Even the inside stuff like cartilage structure has been found to sometimes fit both categories. Toads are often brownish or grayish in color with bright, jewel-like eyes with a transverse pupil; and slightly webbed toes. Toads are often stouter than frogs and cannot leap as far. The tongue of the toad is attached to the front of its mouth. The tongue is flicked forward from the mouth, and the sticky tip grasps the prey and carries it back to the mouth. Unlike most frogs, most toads do not have teeth.