FaunaHub

Frog

AmphibianAnuraIndicator Species

Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) on a green leaf at night.

Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas), a Central American species used here as a reference for the broader frog profile.

Image: Benjamin Smith, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Frogs are tailless amphibians of the order Anura — a very diverse group of more than 7,000 described species. The order includes both "frogs" and "toads" in common usage; the distinction is informal rather than strictly taxonomic. Frogs typically have moist permeable skin, externally-fertilised eggs laid in or near water, and a distinctive larval (tadpole) stage that metamorphoses into the adult form.

Habitat & Range

Anurans occupy a remarkable range of habitats — tropical rainforest canopy, temperate ponds and streams, arid scrub (with extreme adaptations), and even some intertidal zones. Most species require access to standing or slow-moving water at some stage of the life cycle. Habitat loss, water-quality decline, and emerging diseases are major conservation pressures across the group.

Diet

Adult frogs are typically carnivorous, eating insects and other small invertebrates; very large species may take small vertebrate prey. Tadpoles of most species are herbivores or detritivores feeding on algae, plant material, and biofilm, though several lineages have predatory or even carnivorous tadpoles.

Behavior

Many frog species communicate using species-specific advertisement calls produced by males during the breeding season. Calls can carry remarkable distances and are commonly used in the field to identify species and survey populations. Anti-predator strategies include cryptic colouration, startling warning colours in toxic species, leaping escape, and distasteful or actively toxic skin secretions in groups such as poison dart frogs.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Frogs are considered ecological indicator species: their permeable skin and dependence on aquatic environments make them sensitive to pollution and habitat change. Several diseases — most notably chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal) — have devastated amphibian populations globally over recent decades. Some frog species are kept as pets in specialised terraria; the welfare and conservation context is best navigated with an exotic-animal veterinarian and reputable herpetological sources.

Similar Animals

Other amphibians include salamanders and newts (order Caudata) and the limbless, burrowing caecilians (order Gymnophiona). Despite shared common ground with reptiles in popular culture, amphibians and reptiles are separate vertebrate classes with different reproductive biology and skin anatomy.

Frequently Asked Questions — Frog

Are frogs reptiles?
No. Frogs are amphibians (class Amphibia), not reptiles (class Reptilia). They differ in skin anatomy, egg biology, larval stage, and other characters. Amphibians are typically more dependent on moisture and water than reptiles.
What is the difference between frogs and toads?
The distinction is informal. 'Toad' is often applied to anurans with drier, warty skin and a more terrestrial habit — particularly members of family Bufonidae — while 'frog' is used for smoother-skinned, more aquatic species. Both belong to the order Anura.
Are frogs really declining worldwide?
Yes — many amphibian populations have declined significantly over recent decades. Causes include habitat loss, water-quality decline, climate change, UV-B radiation effects, and emerging fungal diseases such as chytridiomycosis. Specific status varies sharply by species.
Can I keep a frog as a pet?
Some species are commonly kept under controlled terrarium conditions, but pet ownership of frogs requires species-appropriate humidity, temperature, water quality, and feeding regimes, plus access to an exotic-animal veterinarian. Wild capture should be avoided, and several species are protected by national or international law.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.