Leap Day Trivia

1. When is a Frog not a Frog?  The answer is, “When it’s a toad.” Biologists use the word frog to refer to all members of the Order Anura – amphibians that lack tails. These include frogs, which tend to have smooth skin, bulging eyes and long strong legs, and toads, which tend to be stocky, have warty skin, and possess shorter hind legs. All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads. Got it? 
   
   
2. Look, Ma, No Hands … Or Legs!  Most folks are familiar with the more common amphibians – frogs, toads, salamanders and newts – but few have ever heard of a caecilian, and probably would mistake one for a worm or a snake. Caecilians are entirely limbless and live either below ground or underwater, so they are rarely seen.  Their skin is smooth, their eyes are barely developed, and the largest ones grow to four feet or more in length. Caecilians are known from the American, African and Asian tropics.
   
   
3. You Might Find This One Hard to Swallow! Very often, a frog or toad will attempt to catch and eat an insect that seems much too large for it to handle. First using its sticky tongue to flip the prey into its mouth, the amphibian may then shove it down further with its small front limbs. Then, as it swallows, it will close its eyes. The eyeballs themselves are pulled into the skull and actually help push the food backward, down the throat and into the stomach. 
   
   
4. The World’s Largest Amphibians: Two Asian species vie for the title of the world’s largest living amphibian, the Japanese and the Chinese giant salamanders. Both live in cold mountain streams and rivers, survive for decades, reach lengths between three and five feet, and can tip the scales at more than 50 pounds. In addition to fish, crustaceans and insects, these two nocturnal predators are also known to consume other amphibians.
   
   
5. Backyard Pest Control: Instead of spraying or spreading toxic chemicals in your home garden to control insect pests, consider attracting a few toads – Mother Nature’s home grown pest control. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that a single adult toad can consume as many as 10,000 slugs, gypsy moth caterpillars, June bugs, Japanese beetles, centipedes and earwigs over the course of an average summer.