Fascinating frog facts

Golden mantella frog

What is the difference between a frog and a toad?
Toads are frogs. The word “toad” is usually used for frogs that have warty skin, short hind legs and live on land.

What is the world’s largest frog?
The goliath frog of West Africa is the world’s largest. It can grow to 15 inches and weigh up to 7 pounds - about the size of a newborn human.

What is the world’s smallest frog?
The smallest may be a recently discovered species in Papua New Guinea. It grows to slightly over ¼-inch and may be the world’s smallest vertebrate as well.

How many kinds of frogs are there?
At last count there were over 4,000 species of frogs worldwide, but scientists continue to find new ones every year.

Do frogs drink?
No. Most frogs absorb all of their water through their skin. Many have a “special drink” patch on the belly.

Blue Dart Poison frog

Are there frogs that can kill a person?
No frog is truly a threat to humans, but some can be dangerous if handled or eaten. There are at least three species of frogs in South America with skin toxins capable of killing a human. The golden poison frog, for example, carries enough poison to kill 10 people!

How many eggs does a frog lay?
Some frogs lay only a few eggs, and others lay as many as 30,000 at a time.

Can you get warts from a toad?
No. Toad “warts” are actually thickenings in the skin or clusters of specialized glands. They are not contagious.

Could a dinosaur have stepped on a frog?
Yes. Frogs have been on earth for some 360 million years. They predated and outlived most of the dinosaurs.

Do frogs shed their skins?
Yes. Most frogs shed the outer layer of skin by twisting and stretching. They often eat the dead skin as it comes off.

See exhibited species.