For the longest time, it was thought that the frogs and the toads were two different kinds of animals. All toad-like species were placed in the family of the toads, Bufonidae. This split was based on the following caracteristics:

*toads have a warty skin, frogs have a smooth skin

*toads have shorter hind legs, frogs longer hindlegs

*toads cannot jump or swim as well as frogs

Since the 80's we know that these caracteristics are spread through all the frogs and toads. There are frogs with a warty skin that cannot jump so well because of their shorter hind legs (Alytes). There are also toads with smooth skin and longer hindlegs (Atelopus). We call this diversity of caracteristics convergent evolution.

Sometimes this change of vison is confusing, because species that were formerly assigned tot the toad-family, are know considered to be a frog, but the name 'toad' is still used in their common name! An example is the famous firebelly toad. This animal is, dispite its name, not a toad, but is considered a toad-like frog.

UK woodland wildlife-

pine martens, squirrels, deer, foxes, badgers, hedghogs, buzzards, kestrels, newts, polecats, weasels, frogs, toads, all kinds of birds,ect

There are many animals that live in the woods in the United Kingdom. Just to name a few:

· Alpine Newt (titurus alpestris)

· Badger (meles)

· Common European Frog (rana temporaria)

· Common European Toad (bufo bufo)

· Common Lizard (lacerta vivipara) - reptile

· European Hare (lepus timidus)

· European Polecat (mustela putorius)

· European Rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus)

· European Pine Marten

· European Tree Frog (hyla arborea)

· Fallow Deer (dama dama)

· Great Crested Newt (triturus cristatus)

· Grey Squirrel (sciurus carolinensis) - rodent

· Italian Crested Newt (triturus carnifex)

· Midwife Toad (alytes obstetricans)

· Muntjac Deer

· Natterjack Toad (bufo calamita)

· Palmate Newt (triturus helveticus)

· Pine Martin (martes martes)

· Red Deer (cervus elaphus)

· Red Fox (vulpes vulpes)

· Red Squirrel (sciurus vulgaris) - rodent

· Roe Deer (capreolus capreolus)

· Sika Deer (hydropotes inermis)

· Smooth (triturus helveticus)

· Weasel (mustela nivalis)

· West European Hedgehog (erinaceus europaeus)

· Wild Boar (sus scrofa)

· Wild Goat (capra aegagrus)

· Wood Mouse (apodemus sylvaticus) - rodent