Frogs Pictures

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Frogs Pictures - Introduction

Frogs and toads have long been a matter of great interest for scientists. According to latest estimations, there are as many as 2,770 species of frogs and toads on earth. They can be found on every continent except Antarctica and vary in types from one region to another according to living conditions. By their behavior, it is possible to tell current or impending atmospheric phenomena.

Frogs Pictures

Picture source:
Birdsall Nature Photography © 2002

Frogs and toads provide firm biologic balance typical of the area that they live in and they are extremely sensitive to environmental hazards. Any interference in their habitat that brings on immediate and drastic changes in natural conditions cause frogs to either leave the place or perish. Deforestation and bog draining result in the disappearance of insects and thus deprive frogs of food. Furthermore, extensive research is constantly conducted on amphibians whereby artificially produced species are released into environment, which also impacts natural conditions.

Frogs Pictures - Description

Picture source:
NatureSound Studio © 1997
Lang Elliott, NatureSound Studio

Frogs and toads are tailless amphibians. They are a cool blood; their body temperature is directly proportional to that of the air. Both frogs and toads have good eyesight, which is observable through distinctive bulging eyes. During the tadpole stage, both of these amphibians live in water, but while grown up toads move to relatively dry areas, frogs continue to dwell in or near water.

Due to long and muscular hind legs, frogs are good jumpers. Toads' hind legs are shorter. A Frog has wet skin and webbed legs. Toads have dry and warty skin. Unlike frogs, they have a parotoid gland, which produces a poisonous substance that sometimes covers the entire body. This substance provides protection against predators.

The secretion has an unpleasant taste forcing a predator to recoil instantly. To people, if touched, the substance can cause inflammatory reactions. Some species of toads produce poison strong enough to kill a dog or a cat and cause a human a serious poison reaction or allergy.

Toads also have darker skin and a flatter body. All these differences are barely visible to the naked eye. Actually it isn't the difference, but the similarity that poses greater interest for specialists and frog admirers. Sometimes traits generally peculiar to frogs are discovered in toads making it pretty hard, if not impossible, to tell them apart.