Amphibians: Frogs, Toads, Salamanders & Newts

Amphibians bridge water and land. Permeable skin, aquatic larvae in many species, and eggs that usually need moisture make them sensitive to pollution, drought and the chytrid fungus pandemic. Everyday identification starts with frog versus toad, salamander versus lizard, and newt versus salamander. Poison dart frogs add the myth that they manufacture toxin — they sequester it from diet instead.

As a class, amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates on current IUCN assessments. Wetland drainage hits them before most other groups notice. Caecilians, limbless tropical amphibians, are often mistaken for worms or snakes and barely appear in popular coverage. Captive-bred dart frogs fed on fruit flies remain non-toxic for life — a fact that matters when the pet trade is discussed. This type page holds the moist-skin rules; the guides behind it carry Red List detail. WARN amphibian guides linked here cover frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, axolotls and caecilians with Red List context where assessed. Anyone finding a moist-skinned four-legged animal on a wet path should assume amphibian first and avoid handling with dry hands or sunscreen residue.

How to recognise them

The features that separate this group in the field, in the order they are usually most useful.

Skin

Moist and permeable in amphibians; dry and scaly in reptiles. A “wet lizard” is usually a salamander.

Frog versus toad

Frogs typically have longer hind legs and smoother skin; toads are stockier with drier, bumpier skin — useful rules with exceptions.

Larvae

Many frogs and salamanders have aquatic larvae with gills; reptiles hatch as miniature adults.

Caecilians

Limbless, worm-like amphibians of the tropics — neither snakes nor earthworms.

The confusion pairs

Salamander versus lizard: moist skin versus scales. Fire salamander versus newt: lifestyle and breeding mode differ by species.