¿Sapo o rana? Y... ¿Cuál es la diferencia?

Summary

This video delves into the difference between toads and frogs, exploring their shared characteristics and distinct features. Both belong to the order Anura, but with varying traits like skin texture, body shape, and behavior. While frogs typically have smooth, moist skin and long legs for jumping, toads feature dry, warty skin and shorter legs for walking. The video also covers the evolutionary history of both creatures, their diverse habitats, and clarifies common misconceptions. With insights into their classification and unique differences, viewers gain a deeper understanding of these fascinating amphibians.

Takeaways

• 😀 Toads and frogs both belong to the amphibian group Anura, meaning they are tailless as adults, although their larvae (tadpoles) have tails.
• 😀 The term 'Salientia' is used to refer to all amphibians more closely related to frogs and toads than to salamanders, and it predates 'Anura'.
• 😀 The genus 'Rana' was first established by Linnaeus in 1758 for frogs, with 54 recognized species and a wider distribution compared to toads.
• 😀 Unlike frogs, true toads belong to the genus 'Bufo', with 35 genera and 628 species, which evolved after the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.
• 😀 Frogs generally have smooth, moist skin, while toads have drier, bumpier (warty) skin. However, exceptions exist within each group.
• 😀 Frogs typically have long hind legs for jumping, whereas toads have shorter legs and are better suited for walking, though they can jump.
• 😀 Toads possess parotoid glands behind their eyes that secrete a milky substance for defense, whereas frogs lack this gland.
• 😀 Toads tend to have a plumper body, shorter face, and ridges on their head, while frogs have more slender bodies and longer, flatter faces.
• 😀 Some species, such as spadefoot toads, defy the common characteristics of toads, such as smooth skin and no parotoid glands, leading to confusion in classification.
• 😀 Out of over 7,300 recognized anuran species, true frogs (Ranids) make up only about 5.76% while true toads (Bufonids) account for 8.51%. The rest are not strictly frogs or toads but are often categorized as such based on general characteristics.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a frog and a toad?

Frogs generally have smooth, moist skin, long hind legs adapted for jumping, and a slender body. Toads, on the other hand, typically have dry, warty skin, shorter legs adapted for walking, and a stockier body.

What is the significance of the term 'Anura' in relation to frogs and toads?

'Anura' refers to a group of amphibians that includes both frogs and toads. The name comes from Greek, meaning 'tailless,' because adult anurans, unlike their larval stages (tadpoles), do not have tails.

What does the term 'Salientia' refer to?

'Salientia' is a broader term used to include both frogs and toads as well as other related extinct amphibians. It was created in 1768 by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti and is sometimes used as a synonym for 'Anura'.

Why is there confusion between frogs and toads despite clear biological distinctions?

The confusion arises because common names for amphibians can be inconsistent, with creatures that are neither frogs nor toads often being called by these names due to superficial traits like smooth or warty skin.

What is the oldest known ancestor of modern frogs and toads?

The oldest known ancestor of modern frogs and toads is *Triadobatrachus massotii*, a small amphibian from the early Triassic period of Madagascar, which lived around 250 million years ago.

What role does the 'parotoid gland' play in toads?

The parotoid gland, found behind the eyes of toads, secretes a milky substance that serves as a defense mechanism against predators, often making them toxic or unpalatable.

What is the historical origin of the word 'toad' in scientific naming?

The word 'toad' comes from the Latin 'Bufo,' a genus established by Linnaeus in 1758. There is a myth that Linnaeus used the term to mock his colleague, George Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon, but this is not well-supported.

How can you distinguish frogs and toads based on their reproductive behavior?

Frogs typically lay their eggs in undifferentiated masses, while toads arrange their eggs in orderly chains, often in shallow water.

How do the physical differences between frogs and toads relate to their environments?

Frogs, with their long legs and smooth skin, are adapted for jumping and living in moist environments. Toads, with their shorter legs and drier, warty skin, are better suited to drier habitats and walking or hopping short distances.

Why are spadefoot toads an exception to the general rule of toad characteristics?

Spadefoot toads have smooth skin, lack facial ridges, and do not have the prominent parotoid glands typical of other toads. Despite this, they are still classified as true toads within the Bufonidae family.