How are frogs and toads different from salamanders and newts?

Frogs and toads (order Anura) are distinct from salamanders and newts (order Caudata) primarily in their body structure and locomotion.12

Key differences include:

• Body Shape and Tail: Anurans are characterized by a squat, tailless body form. In contrast, salamanders and newts possess a long, slender body with a prominent tail.123
• Limbs: Frogs and toads have long, powerful hind limbs specifically modified for leaping. Salamanders and newts typically have two pairs of limbs of roughly equal size, which are used for a generalized walking gait.213
• Specialization: Salamanders generally exhibit a less-specialized morphology compared to the highly adapted, leaping-focused body plan of anurans.23
• Auditory Systems: Because frogs and toads rely on vocalization, they possess a more specialized auditory apparatus than salamanders, which do not depend on vocal abilities.23

While both groups are amphibians that share traits like moist skin and cutaneous respiration, these structural differences clearly separate the two orders.12