If you’re slim and sleek with long legs and glistening skin you’re a frog. But if you’re stumpy and dumpy with short legs and warts you’re just a toad.

Well, not exactly. You see, toads are frogs. Toads and frogs together make up the order Anura. We didn’t have a nomenclature problem when I was a kid growing up in Louisiana.

I guess when you’re a semi-wild seven to nine year old boy splashing in puddles and wading along the banks of bayous, ponds and lakes searching for all things slimy, you have an intuitive link to nature. We had frogs and toadfrogs – there was a visceral connection.

When biologists refer to toads, they generally are referring to those particular creatures that make up the family Bufonidae. Bufonidae is one of those large and varied families that taxonomists keep toying with. Currently there are approximately 26 genera and more than 300 species of Bufonids. These hardy toads are found naturally all around the world except for the polar regions, Australia, Madagascar and Polynesia.

However, since there aren’t enough natural environmental woes on the planet, man has introduced toads, like the cane toad in Australia, the Philippines and even south Florida, to serve as biological controls for cane-devouring insects. But since there are no natural predators for the natural predators, negative impacts often outweigh the positive.

Members of the family Bufonidae are characterized by squat, stubby bodies with short legs. These are not your celebrated jumping frogs of Calaveras County. They tend to walk or amble and hop only under duress – never jump.

Other distinctive Bufonidae features include dry, warty skin, muted grayish-brown coloration and large parotoid glands behind the eyes. These glands and the warts or bumps on some toads produce toxic fluids. The toxin is particularly unpleasant and discourages most (but not all) predators. The toxin from North America’s largest toad – the cane toad, Bufo marinus, found in south Texas is potent enough to kill dogs and wreak havoc on human skin.

The toads in our area are not so dangerous, as my toddler Izzy can readily attest. Only a couple of months to go before our frog safaris begin again. Toads often release urine and/or water when handled. This fluid will not cause warts but hands should be washed before any eye rubbing or nose wiping because of the before mentioned toxins.

The two common toads in our area are Bufo americanus, the American toad, and Bufo woodhousii fowleri, Fowler’s toad. These toads are similar in appearance. The American is 2 to 4.5 inches long while Fowler’s is 2 to 3.5 inches. The two best ways to distinguish these species by sight is: The parotoid gland on the American toad is separated from a prominent ridge behind the eye by a short longitudinal ridge. The parotoid gland of the Fowler’s is contiguous with a low crest behind the eye – not separated from it. The American toad will have one or two warts on each dark spot on its back – Fowler’s toad has three or more small warts on each dark dorsal spot.

They are easily distinguished by voice. The American toad has a musical, cricket-like trill that is often sustained for 20 to 30 seconds. The Fowler’s toad sounds like a miniature sheep with its foot caught in the barn gate. This “waaaah” bleat only lasts for two to four seconds.

These virtuosos will be coming soon to a bog, pond, vernal pool or stream near you when the snow melts.

Next week we will hop to the frogs and spadefoots of the region.

(Don Hendershot can be reached at ddihen@juno.com)