Frog vs Toad: What's the Difference?
Toads are frogs with drier, rougher, wartier skin that live more on land. The split is informal and doesn’t match scientific classification. The frog is tiny; the toad is small.
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: Commonly confused animals.