Amphibians live a double life, which is exactly what their name means. Most frogs, toads, newts and salamanders begin as aquatic larvae that breathe with gills, then transform into air-breathing adults that can move onto land. This change, called metamorphosis, is one of the most dramatic in the animal world. Amphibians also have thin, moist skin that can absorb water and even oxygen, so most species need damp places to live and lay their eggs, usually in or near fresh water.
Because that sensitive skin takes in whatever is around it, amphibians are often seen as indicators of a healthy environment, and scientists keep a close eye on their numbers. This section covers the most familiar members of the group. Explore the colors, calls and habits of frogs, follow the wriggling early stages of life in our guides to tadpoles, and learn how the dry, bumpy-skinned toad differs from its smoother frog cousins. It is a great starting point for pond studies, school projects and backyard nature watching.
Amphibians have been evolving for nearly 400 million years, the first ever discovered fossil of theirs dating back 368 million years during the late-Devonian period. Since then, they have evolved into about 8,600 different species and subspecies currently recognized by science, with more and more new species discovered each and every year. Over 6,000 of…
Roughly 400 million years ago the first four-legged fish swam out of the ocean and walked onto land, breathing oxygen from our atmosphere for the very first time. These became the ancestors of all land-dwelling animals today, including us humans, and Florida tree frogs, which we’ll be learning about in todays piece. The most commonly…
Roughly 400 million years ago the first four-legged fish swam out of the ocean and walked onto land, breathing oxygen from our atmosphere for the very first time. These animals became the ancestors of all land animals today, including humans, and including amphibians. The oldest fossil of a frog ever found dates back 250 million…
Tree frogs are fascinating amphibians that spend most of their lifespan living in trees. Those tiny creatures are symbols of the natural world because of their ability to change colors, their adaptations, and their vocal abilities. They differ from others with their nocturnal activity and unique calls. That’s why tree frogs are more often heard…
Quick answer: Frogs usually have smooth, moist skin, long legs for jumping, and live near water, while toads have dry, bumpy skin, shorter legs, and spend more time on land. Both are amphibians, and toads are technically a group of frogs. Did you know?: Many people mistake frogs for toads, and toads for frogs? It’s…
A toad’s life cycle has four main stages: egg, tadpole, toadlet and adult. Toads lay their eggs in water, the eggs hatch into swimming tadpoles, and the tadpoles slowly change into tiny toads that move onto land. This amazing change is called metamorphosis. What Are Toads? Toads are a kind of frog. There is no…
Here are some FREE Frog Coloring Pages for you to print out. There is no reason to ever be bored with so many fun frog projects to work on! Be creative with our free frog drawings, like use them as frog stencils. Some of our drawings of frogs are simple frog sketches to color in…
What came first in the life cycle of a frog: the tadpole, the egg, or the frog? Let’s dive into the water to find out! Teachers and students: you’re welcome to use this diagram in lessons and projects with credit to Learn About Nature. A frog’s life cycle is very different than many animals you…
If you wanted to draw a diagram of frog anatomy you might be surprised at how many parts there are in that little amphibian. Frogs live on land most of the time, but they are amphibians because they are born in the water, female frogs lay their eggs underwater, and they start their life as…
Quick answer: You can tell frogs apart by their size, skin texture, color, pattern, toe pads and call. For example, tree frogs have sticky toe pads, true frogs have smooth skin, and toads have dry, bumpy skin. There are nearly 4,000 types of frogs, including toads, which are in the frog family, in almost every…
Only 100 years ago if you lived in California or Oregon you might not have ever seen a North American bullfrog. But now bullfrogs are all over North America, and can even be found on other continents. Some scientists think this is a problem because the bullfrog population is growing so quickly in parts of…
The big question is what is the difference between frogs and toads? The problem with this question is that there isn’t an easy answer because toads ARE frogs, or at least they are in the frog family. But toads aren’t what are called “true frogs”. True frogs are the species of frogs that most people…