Different species of frogs and toads have different ways of reducing water loss. Most frogs and toads live in habitats that provide access to some sort of water body. The frogs and toads will then spend time in the water 'replenishing' any water they have lost. However, there are some frogs and toads that have unique methods of dealing with water loss. For example, the Water-holding Frog from South Australia lives in the desert and spends most if its time underground.

They squeeze their lungs with their nostrils and mouth shut. Air flows over their vocal chords and into their vocal sacs located on their throat, which then blow up like balloons. There are some frogs that can make noises without vocal sacs.

Toads and frogs are attracted to damp gardens and ponds. Leave shelved edges along pond edges with pond lilys and plants such as marsh marigold. Piles of logs or bricks are good for amphibians to spend hot days and attract insects for them to feed on.

No. As tadpoles, frogs and toads can be both herbivores (plant eating) and carnivores (meat eating). As adults, frogs and toads are carnivores, eating insects. But, not all frogs and toads eat only insects. The Spiny Reed frog is an african frog that is known to prey on the eggs of members of its own species. This is called heterocannibalism. Click here for more information on the Spiny Reed frog.

of 1994, there are 3,500 species of the order Anura (frogs and toads) of which 80 species are found in the United States. In Minnesota there are 14 native species of Anura.

Not successfully. Some males are nonselective of mates and will mount other males, which will give a warning noise for the other to release its grasp.

Depending on the species, between 2 to 40 years! The average age for a frog or toad is about 4 to 15 years.

Frogs and toads will sit very still with their eyes closed. The assumption is that they are asleep, but it is not clear how long they sleep per day.

Most frogs and toads breathe (and take in moisture) through their skin through a process called cutaneous gas exchange, but they also have lungs with which they breathe.

There are a number of frogs and toads that can change color, depending on the temperature or substrate. In the US the best known example is the Gray Tree Frogs which regularly change from bright green to gray. For more information check Mattison's Frogs and Toads of the World.

Yes, one of the few characteristics that the three living orders of amphibians (frogs, toads, etc) share is 'jointed' or 'hinged' teeth.

Frogs and toads are terms that originated in the United Kingdom to describe their frog diversity. In this part of the world, it is a simple difference. They have a frog and a toad species. So, the description of a typical "frog" and "toad" is regional. Toads are a type of frog and in many tropical areas Toad Family members look like a typical frog, with thin skin and live in moist habitats.

There are historical accounts of frogs falling from the sky, but these events are accompanied by terrific wind storms. Click here for more information.

Whenever trying to I.D. frogs and toads, take a look at pictures and descriptions in various sources (field guides, web sites, encyclopedia, etc.). Since there can be a lot of color or pattern variation in some species, viewing a lot of different photos will may help you to see the variety. Also, read about other characteristics besides color. Often, these other characteristics are more reliable for identifying the species than its color.

Yes. During Minnesota winters the frogs and toads become dormant, hibernating either in the aquatic vegetation of lakes and ponds, under the water, or under leaf litter on the ground. For example, the Northern Leopard Frog and the Mink Frog will spend the winter swimming slowly under the ice, in the water of lakes, ponds and streams. The Wood Frog and the Spring Peeper can withstand partial freezing of body fluids buried under leaf little on the woodland floor.

The death of a beloved pet can be very distressing. Our pets are not only members of the family, they are our faithful friends, our children’s devoted playmates and reliable, affectionate companions. They enrich our day-to-day lives and their passing makes for a deeply felt loss. A grieving period is to be expected. It can be addressed by talking to friends or relatives who understand the serious feeling of your loss.

I can't stress this enough! Definitely some species do ok together, but in many cases this can have deadly consequences! One visitor wrote me with an anecdote about having a Firebellied Toad and a Pac Man Frog in the same tank.

Toads will often go to the bathroom in the water, but not always. If they make a regular practice of going to the bathroom in the water, consider it a good thing - you don't have to hunt for it in the rest of the tank. Just dump the dirty water into the toilet and wash the bowl out with really hot water and wipe clean. If the bowl is porous, do not use soap which can be very hard to get out of the pores. For occasional sterilizing, we bake our water bowls at 250 degrees for a few hours.

No. The amount of time that adults spend in the water varies enormously. Bullfrogs and green frogs, although they have lungs and breathe air, spend almost all their adult lives in the water. On the other end of the spectrum, toads and treefrogs spend the majority of their adulthood outside of water. All frogs and toads, however, must eventually come back to the water to mate and lay eggs.

No. The Gastric Brooding Frog actually incubates its young inside its stomach. The young frogs emerge when they have developed past the tadpole stage. Click here for more information on the Gastric Brooding Frog.