Amphibian question

[The Snark]

Why do frogs jump while toads walk/waddle?

 

[Mike41793]

The toads in my backyard hop.

 

[Tenodera]

Toads in general seem more easy-going since they have that thicker skin, bulk, poison, and pretty great camouflage. Kinda like the difference in strategies between Pyrgomorph and band-winged grasshoppers; one group can get away with a less energy-expensive locomotion. Doesn't really explain why dart frogs and the like still jump, but I guess they'd still want to avoid injury from an inexperienced predator because they're all squishy.
That said, toads do do quite a lot of hopping and jumping when someone's chasing them.

 

[Malhavoc's]

Toads in general seem more easy-going since they have that thicker skin, bulk, poison, and pretty great camouflage. Kinda like the difference in strategies between Pyromorph and band-winged grasshoppers; one group can get away with a less energy-expensive locomotion. Doesn't really explain why dart frogs and the like still jump, but I guess they'd still want to avoid injury from an inexperienced predator because they're all squishy.
That said, toads do do quite a lot of hopping and jumping when someone's chasing them.

Toads spend less time near high humidity/moisture/water and thus are better suited for terrestrial life, which means walking, as hoping is high energy consuming? a possibility.

 

[The Snark]

Energy conservation? That's something that never occurred to me. Toads are reputed to be past masters at metabolic control. I believe it was Dr. Theodore Stephanides or one of his colleagues who found a pair of healthy toads that had been sealed in a wall for several years. So they extend this to their day to day existences? IE, they can hop but are philosophical about it: Should I go after that bug or wait a few weeks for one to come closer?