Introducing Frogs and Toads
Frogs and toads are currently very popular amongst naturalists, conservationists and gardeners. Traditionally the loathsome or Cinderella creatures of children’s story books, they have now reached a tremendous popularity world-wide, although it is sad to relate that they are still in decline in most parts of the world, Here in Australia during the past eighteen years nine endemic species have become extinct and another forty-two species are in trouble, although great efforts are being made to halt this decline.
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 Although interest in frogs is increasing in Australia many species are endangered.
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 The introduced Cane Toad is the only species of toad to be found in Australia.
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For most people determining the difference between a frog and a toad is mystifying, although in Australia, as there are no native species of toad, the majority of gardeners can tell whether the creature is a Cane Toad, or a frog, for the former is a very common alien in many parts of the country and subject to major programmes of elimination, as it is dominating many natural wetland areas.
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A toad is generally regard as a member of the Bufonidae family, although some members of the Microhylidae are also called toads. This division was originally based upon the observation of the common European toad, Bufo bufo, and comparison with the common European frog, Rana temporia. Collectively both frogs and toads are included within the Amphibia in a natural order called Anura, thus the common term anurans when referring to frogs and toads in general terms.
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 All anurans have skin that is permeable to water and must remain moist.
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 Frog and toad spawn is usually deposited in still water.
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All anurans have skin that is permeable to water. This is constantly evaporating, so most anurans inhabit damp or aquatic environments. The majority of frogs and toads “sing”, although this is almost exclusively the preserve of the males. A number of species have an expanding throat sac that serves as an amplifier.
Eggs are mostly laid and fertilized while the male rests on the female’s back and clasps her around the waist. This is called amplexus. Anuran eggs or spawn are mostly soft and subject to drying out, so they are normally deposited in water or a moist place.
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The tadpoles have tails and gradually develop into froglets or toadlets. In a number of species the froglets also have tails for a while before they are finally absorbed.
All frogs and toads are predators. They eat their victims alive, grabbing, gulping and swallowing them whole. Some species only prey upon one kind of insect, although most will eat any living creature that they can get into their mouth. Some will even devour fish and water snails.
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 Frogs are quite ferocious predators and eat their victims alive.
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