Wildlife
Frogs and toads
Frogs and toads are the most diverse and widespread of the three amphibian orders. Unlike the other amphibians, adult frogs and toads have no tails but they do have many adaptations to jumping, for example long hind legs, elongated ankle bones and a short vertebral column. Many frogs contain mild toxins, but some, such as the poison dart frogs, are deadly.
Watch video clips from past programmes (3 clips)
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Amphibian locomotion
Life in Cold Blood
Frogs challenge their hopping reputation.
This sequence uses a variety of techniques to show the diversity in size, shape and ability of the most successful group in the amphibian order: frogs and toads. Juxtaposing Sir David with a tiny Madagascan pygmy frog sets off its diminutive size and slow motion shows in great detail how frogs put their particular bodily adaptations to locomotive use.
Desert amphibians
Life in Cold Blood
Australian spadefoot toads rise like zombies at the first rain.
Australian spadefoot toads rise like zombies at the first rain.
Walking on water
Land of the Tiger
Frogs use an unusual strategy to escape from predatory egrets.
Frogs use an unusual strategy to escape from predatory egrets.
Distribution
The shading illustrates the diversity of this group - the darker the colour the greater the number of species. Data provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Frogs and toads can be found in a number of locations including: United Kingdom, Wales, Ynys-hir nature reserve. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
Explore this group
True toads
Poison dart frogs
Australasian tree frogs (genus)
Ditch frogs (genus)
Surinam toad (species)
Marsh frog (species)
Darwin's frog (species)
Fossil types
Learn more about the other animals and plants that also form these fossils.
AmberAmber owes its existence to the defence mechanisms of certain kinds of tree. When the bark is punctured or infected, a sticky resin oozes out to seal the damage and sterilise the area.
About
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura (meaning "tail-less", from Greek an-, without + oura, tail), formerly referred to as Salientia (Latin salere (salio), "to jump"). Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits (fingers or toes), protruding eyes and the absence of a tail. Frogs are widely known as exceptional jumpers, and many of the anatomical characteristics of frogs, particularly their long, powerful legs, are adaptations to improve jumping performance. Due to their permeable skin, frogs are often semi-aquatic or inhabit humid areas, but move easily on land. They typically lay their eggs in puddles, ponds or lakes, and their larvae, called tadpoles, have gills and develop in water. Adult frogs follow a carnivorous diet, mostly of arthropods, annelids and gastropods. Frogs are most noticeable by their call, which can be widely heard during the night or day, mainly in their mating season.
The distribution of frogs ranges from tropic to subarctic regions, but most species are found in tropical rainforests. Consisting of more than 5,000 species described, they are among the most diverse groups of vertebrates. However, populations of certain frog species are declining significantly.
A popular distinction is often made between frogs and toads on the basis of their appearance, but this has no taxonomic basis. (Members of the anuran family Bufonidae are called true toads, but many species from other families are also called toads.) In addition to their ecological importance, frogs have many cultural roles, such as in literature, symbolism and religion, and they are also valued as food and as pets.
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Classification
- Life
- Animals
- Vertebrates
- Amphibians
- Frogs and toads
BBC News about Frogs and toads
- Frog killer immune genes revealed Scientists take a big step toward understanding why some frogs are able to survive the fungal disease chytridiomycosis while others quickly die.
- Double whammy for the disappearing frogs
- Appeal to look out for amphibians
- Frog hunt ends: Most still absent
- Frogs re-evolved lost lower teeth
- 'Lost' frogs found after decades
- Frog skin may help beat antibiotic resistance
Video collections
Take a trip through the natural world with our themed collections of video clips from the natural history archive.
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David Attenborough's Madagascar
Like nowhere else on Earth, the mystery and magic of Madagascar leaves a vivid impression on all those who visit, and none more so than David Attenborough.
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David Attenborough's favourite moments
Watch the most memorable moments from an incredible career watching wildlife, chosen by Sir David from the BBC archive.
Elsewhere on the BBC
Elsewhere on the web
- The differences between frogs and toads (allaboutfrogs.org)
- Animal Diversity Web (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- Frogs and toads on the Tree of Life (tolweb.org)
- Encyclopedia of Life entry (eol.org)
- Frog (wikipedia.org)
bbc.co.uk navigation
BBC links
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