MOOSE, Wyo. — According to Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), it’s a common mistake to confuse a frog with a toad, two amphibians who can look toad-ally similar.
“Don’t jump to the wrong conclusions,” GTNP warns visitors.
The National Park Service suggests several different ways to distinguish the two. Frogs usually have smoother, moister skin than the drier, bumpier toad skin. Toads have shorter legs, while frogs have longer and more powerful back legs with muscles that help them jump longer distances. Additionally, though both occupy habitats in or near ponds, streams, marshes or other wetlands, frogs are more likely to be found in or near water.
GTNP is home to five species of amphibians: the Columbia spotted frogs, boreal chorus frogs, western toads, western tiger salamanders and bullfrogs, which were introduced to the area. Northern leopard frogs are believed to be extinct in the area.
According to the NPS, the word amphibian has its root in the Greek words meaning “double life.” This refers to the unusual two-stage life cycle that includes hatching from an egg and breathing through gills and then undergoing a metamorphosis into an adult that breathes using lungs.
“While adults are considered terrestrial, amphibians continue to spend most of their lives near water,” GTNP states. “Take some time during your visit to search for these interesting creatures. They are an important link in the food web — providing food for birds, otters and fish, and preying on insects.”
GTNP recommends heading to String Lake, Schwabacher Landing (along the Snake River) and Taggart Lake for frog viewing opportunities.
