Frogs and toads are amphibians within the order Anura, which means tail-less in Greek, since adults of this order lack tails in the conventional sense (although there are two species of “tailed frog” in the Ascaphidae family). There are more than 5,000 described species of frogs and toads, making them the largest order of amphibians. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and range in size from less than ½ inch (Izecksohn’s toad, Psyllophryne didactyla; Holguin miniature frog, Eleutherodactylus iberia; Indian miniature nightfrog, Nyctibatrachus minimus) to over a foot long (Goliath frog, Conraua goliath). The greatest numbers of species (more than 80%) are found within the Tropics, but there are also two species that are found north of the Artic Circle (European common frog, Rana temporaria; North American wood frog, Rana sylvatica). The later of which actually freezes solid in the winter and thaws out in the spring.

There also are frogs that can survive in deserts (Pacific Tree Frog, Pseudacris regilla; Spadefoot toads, Scaphiopodidae family, Woodhouse toads, Bufo woodhouseii; Crucifix toad, Notaden bennetti; Flat-headed frog Cyclorana platycephalus). Although there are no clear distinctions between frogs and toads, the term “toad’ is usually used to describe stout, rough-skinned or warty, slow-moving terrestrial species.