How many species of Frogs are there?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Who Smarted?

Episode: How many species of Frogs are there?

Release Date: September 1, 2025
Host/Production: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media

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Overview

In this engaging and humor-filled episode, the trusty narrator (Host B) finds himself sitting on a lily pad next to a chatty bullfrog (Character A). Together, they explore the wonderfully diverse and surprising world of frogs, answering kid-friendly questions like:

• How many different species of frogs are there?
• What’s the difference between a frog and a toad?
• How do frogs live in different environments?
• Why are tadpoles born with tails and no legs?
  Along the way, listeners discover fun facts, learn through interactive trivia, and enjoy plenty of frog-inspired puns and playful banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life on a Lily Pad: Frog Snacks & Seasons

• Scene Setting: The episode opens with the host and a bullfrog perched on a lily pad.
  • Frog shares his favorite snacks—mosquitoes, spiders, and grasshoppers.
    • “That mosquito right out of the air with your lightning fast tongue.” [01:05, B]
• Spring is Frog Season:
  • Springtime is highlighted as the busiest time for pond life, when “things are really hopping.”
    • “Springtime is when lots of critters, both large and small, literally come to life.” [02:17, A]

2. Frog Biology Basics

• Amphibian Identity: Trivia segment asks what type of animal a frog is. Answer: Amphibian.
  • Frogs live both on land and in water, adapting to each environment for millions of years.
    • “Frogs are what's known as amphibians.” [05:02, A]
    • “We've been able to adapt to each environment for millions of years. Whoa.” [05:40, A]
  • Frogs have existed since the time of the dinosaurs. [05:49, A]

3. Frog Diversity & Species Count

• How Many Species?

  • Around 5,000 species worldwide (and counting).
    • “Froggy, believe it or not, there are some 5,000 different species of frog in the world.” [06:17, A]
  • Frogs are found on every continent except Antarctica. [06:29, A]
    • (Fun callback to cold vs. hot clues for the answer.)

• Ongoing Discoveries:

  • New frog species are discovered regularly. [06:54, A]

4. Frog Colors and Adaptations

• Appearance:

  • Not all frogs are green—examples include the Amazon milk frog (cow-patterned) and the strawberry poison dart frog (red with blue legs). [07:11, A]

• Difference between Frogs and Toads:

  • Toads are a sub-group of frogs: “All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads.” [07:53, A]
  • Physical differences:
    • Frogs: bulgier eyes, longer legs for hopping, smooth and slimy skin, prefer water.
    • Toads: shorter legs for walking, bumpier and drier skin, spend more time on land.
  • All toads are poisonous; they have glands behind the eyes that secrete toxins. [08:47, A]

5. The Frog Life Cycle

• Egg to Tadpole:

  • Listeners witness the hatching of tadpoles from jelly-like eggs on a log.
    • “Lots of tiny black spots with itty bitty tails are starting to emerge from the jelly. What are they, smarty pants?”
    • “They’re tadpoles, otherwise known as baby frogs.” [12:50, A]
  • Tadpoles grow arms and legs (in 6 to 8 weeks), lose their tails as they mature (in 3 to 4 months). [13:10, A]

• Predators:

  • Tadpoles and young frogs are preyed upon by birds, fish, snakes, and lizards.
    • “The answer is all of them. Seems we’re just delicious.” [13:46, A]
    • “One of the best ways for frogs to avoid getting eaten is to hide out under the water.” [14:39, A]

6. Frog Defenses & Special Features

• Skin Superpowers:
  • Frogs can absorb oxygen through their skin (in addition to having lungs), letting them breathe underwater for up to two hours.
    • “Frogs have special skin. It … allows us to inhale oxygen underwater through it.” [14:57, A]
    • “Most of the oxygen we need, we absorb through our skin. However, we do need to keep our skin moist or else it’s lights out.” [15:14, A]
  • Frogs shed their skin regularly—and then eat it for extra protein!
    • “We eat it.” [16:01, A]
    • “That’s not gross. It’s good protein and an easy snack.” [16:05, A]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being an amphibian:
  • “We’ve got the best of both worlds.” [05:31, A]
• On frog evolution:
  • “Believe it or not, we’ve been able to adapt to each environment for millions of years.” [05:40, A]
• Jokes & Jabs:
  • “Hop to it. Because frogs hop. Very funny.” [04:26, B]
  • “I’m just ribbitin’ ya.” [04:37, A]
• On frog variety:
  • “I got cousins down in South America called the Amazon milk frog that are covered in colored blotches that make them literally look like cows...” [07:11, A]
• On frog defense:
  • “Toads have glands behind their eyes that secrete or ooze out toxins under their skin. So if you or the smarty pants ever handle a toad, be sure to wash your hands good afterwards.” [08:51, A]
• On frog delicacies:
  • “Yeah, frogs legs kind of taste like chicken.” [14:01, B]
  • “Excuse me?” [14:01, A]
• On skin-shedding:
  • “Wanna know what we do with our skin after it comes off? … We eat it.” [15:49–16:01, A]
• Gross-out Humor:
  • “Humans chew their nails and eat their boogers, don’t they?” [16:05, A]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:04 — Introduction, sitting on lily pad with a frog
• 01:08 — Frog diet: lightning-fast tongue demonstration
• 02:17 — Spring: busiest season for frogs
• 05:02 — Frogs are amphibians, explanation
• 05:49 — Frogs since the age of dinosaurs
• 06:17 — Number of frog species (about 5,000)
• 06:54 — New frog species are discovered regularly
• 07:11 — Unique frogs: Amazon milk frog and poison dart frog
• 07:53 — Frog vs. toad differences
• 08:47 — Toads are poisonous
• 12:50 — Tadpoles hatching from eggs
• 13:46 — Predators of baby frogs
• 14:39 — Frogs hide underwater to avoid predators
• 14:57 — Oxygen absorption through skin
• 15:49 — Frogs eat their own shed skin for protein
• 16:21 — Episode wrap-up and shout out

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Tone & Style

True to "Who Smarted?"’s reputation, the episode is packed with punny jokes, playful banter, silly sound effects, and interactive trivia for young listeners—creating an energetic and accessible environment for learning. The chemistry between the trusty narrator and the wisecracking frog keeps the episode lively, while fascinating facts ensure curious kids (and adults!) come away both laughing and smarter.

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Episode Takeaways

• Frogs are ancient, diverse, and found almost everywhere on Earth (except Antarctica!).
• There are over 5,000 species, with new ones still being discovered.
• Frogs and toads are related, but toads have unique adaptations and all are poisonous.
• Frog life starts as eggs, becomes tadpoles, and finally, hopping frogs.
• These incredible creatures breathe through both lungs and skin, and even eat their own shed skin!
• Humor and facts go hand-in-hand—making “Who Smarted?” a standout for learning that sticks.

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Transcript

[A]

Psst.

[B]

Hey, smarty pants. Let me tell you, one of the coolest things about being a trusty narrator is I never quite know where I'm going to end up. Sometimes I'm in space. Sometimes I'm in the ocean. Sometimes I'm inside the human body. Today, I'm sitting on a lily pad floating in a pond, just like. What animal did you say? A frog. That's right. I'm sitting on a lily pad just like a frog. Oh, also with a bullfrog.

[A]

Sup?

[B]

That's another cool part of being a trusty narrator. You never know who or what you'll be hanging out with. And why exactly are we sitting here on a lily pad?

[A]

We're waiting.

[B]

Gotcha. Um, waiting for what? Exactly?

[A]

That.

[B]

Whoa. You just snatched that.

[A]

That mosquito, I think.

[B]

That mosquito right out of the air with your lightning fast tongue.

[A]

Oh, yeah. That is good eating right there.

[B]

I will take your word for it. What else do you snack on?

[A]

Oh, I never turned down a juicy spider or something if I'm really hungry. A crispy green grasshopper. You hungry, trusty narrator?

[B]

I was, but I think I'll just stick to my PB&J sandwich.

[A]

Your loss.

[B]

I gotta say, frog, it sure is tranquil around here.

[A]

Tranquil? I do not know what you're looking at. There is a lot going on around here, especially this time of year.

[B]

Really?

[A]

Really.

[B]

And here I was thinking we were just sitting around on a lily pad waiting for an insect or bug to fly or crawl too close. And.

[A]

Well, we're doing that too. But like I said, this is our busy season.

[B]

Ah, smarty pants. What time of year has my frog friend so excited? In particular, what season is most eventful at the pond? If you said springtime, you're right.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Springtime is when lots of critters, both large and small, literally come to life. This is when things are really hopping. Especially for frogs like me.

[B]

Great. I'm sure the smarty pants would love to know more about frogs. Like, how many different species of frogs are there? What's the difference between a frog and a toad? What animals do frogs need to look out for? And is it true frogs are born with a tail and no legs? It sounds like it's time for another whiff of science on who's Smarted? Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science? Or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smarted? This episode is sponsored by wayfair as the weather cools down, the days get shorter. I always feel the urge to make my space feel extra cozy. And honestly, Wayfair is the first place I go. They've got everything you need to cozify your home this fall. From comfy recliners, cozy bedding, to autumn themed throw pillows and decor. I just picked up a really nice plush throw blanket and it completely transformed our living room. Suddenly it feels like the perfect spot to curl up with a book or sneak in a movie knife. And the best part? Wayfair had tons of options in every style and budget. So I found exactly what I wanted without hopping between stores. And yes, the free delivery, even on the big stuff, makes it hassle free. So whether you are freshing your living room, sprucing up your kitchen with fall cookware, or finally getting that espresso maker for homemade lattes, Wayfair has it all. Cozify your space with Wayfair's curated collection of easy, affordable fall updates. Find it all for way [e-mail] that's W a Y-F-A-I-R.com Wayfair Every style, every.

[A]

Home all right trusty, hop to it. What do you want to know first?

[B]

I get it. Hop to it. Because frogs hop. Very funny.

[A]

Yep, and even funnier when you explain the joke.

[B]

Yeah, you're right, I won't do that any.

[A]

Relax, trusty, I'm just ribbitin ya.

[B]

Oh, I get it. Because frogs say rib. Never mind. Smarty pants, what's the first thing we should know about frogs? Ooh, I know. What category of animal do frogs belong to? Is it A, reptiles, baby mammals, C marsupials or D something else? What do you think, smarty pants?

[A]

The answer is D something else. Frogs are what's known as amphibians.

[B]

Yep. Sorry Smarties, if you didn't get that, I made that a little trickier than normal. But I know a lot of you got that, so good job. And for a follow up question, what is a main qualification of an amphibian or amphibious creature?

[A]

The answer is we can live on both land and in the water.

[B]

I gotta say, that's pretty cool.

[A]

It sure is. We've got the best of both worlds.

[B]

You get the best of both worlds.

[A]

Believe it or not, we've been able to adapt to each environment for millions of years. Whoa.

[B]

Did you say millions of years?

[A]

Yep. Ever since the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

[B]

Wow. Frogs have been with us a long, long, long, long time. And when we say frogs, about how many different species are we talking about? Smarty pants, would you say There are about 100 species of frogs? 1,000 species? 3,000 species, or around 5,000 species of frogs?

[A]

Froggy, believe it or not, there are some 5,000 different species of frog in the world. And when I say the world, I mean it. Frogs live on every continent except one.

[B]

Any guesses which one? If you said Africa, you're very cold, but if you said Antarctica, you're very hot because Antarctica is way too cold for frogs to live on.

[A]

That felt like a very confusing way to say frogs do not live on Antarctica. But I get what you're going for. I'm just saying.

[B]

True or false? New frogs are being discovered all the time.

[A]

The answer is true.

[B]

Hopefully the new frogs they find won't be as judgy as my friend here.

[A]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

[B]

Here's a question I'm curious about. Do all frogs look basically the same? You're pretty much all green except for a white belly. Is that the universal frog look?

[A]

Absolutely not. I got cousins down in South America called the Amazon milk frog that are covered in colored blotches that make them literally look like cows. And I've got another cousin in Central America called the strawberry poison dart frog that has a red body with blue legs.

[B]

Yikes. I don't think you want to get too close to them, smarty pants. So what about toads? Do toads count as frogs? And if not, what's the difference?

[A]

Great question, trusty.

[B]

Do you mean that or are you just being nice now?

[A]

Hey, man, I'm trying, I'm trying.

[B]

Anyway, what do you got?

[A]

It's like this. Toads are a sub classification of frogs. That means all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads. You get it?

[B]

Got it. Good.

[A]

The differences between frogs and toads can be pretty subtle or small. In fact, there's no scientific distinction between them.

[B]

Oh. So what are the differences?

[A]

Mostly physical stuff. Frogs have bulgier eyes than toads and longer hind legs that help us hop. Toads have shorter hind legs that are better for walking. That's because toads spend more time on land while frogs prefer the water. Because of that, frogs have smoother, slimier skin, while toads have bumpier, drier skin.

[B]

Very interesting.

[A]

Oh, and all toads are poisonous.

[B]

Poisonous?

[A]

Yep. Toads have glands behind their eyes that secrete or ooze out toxins under their skin. So if you or the smarty pants ever handle a toad, be sure to wash your hands good afterwards.

[B]

Thanks for the tip. Say, there seems to be Some kind of commotion over by that big log sticking out of the water. What do you think's happening?

[A]

Oh, that. That's where it all begins.

[B]

Where all what begins?

[A]

Come on, let's go take a look. See those clusters of jelly like blobs on the edge of the log?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Moving a bit closer. Closer.

[B]

Okay, I'm much closer now. This isn't some kind of gag or prank, is it?

[A]

Who, me? Never. Trust me. This is an amazing moment in nature. Just watch.

[B]

Oh, wait. Something's happening. What do you think it is, smarty pants? I'll tell you all about it right after this quick break. Whosmarted is brought to you by Squarespace. Now, you know I'm good about creating new adventures and episodes of Whosmarted, but you don't know that I procrastinate on other stuff. Like a website for one of our new projects. Oops. When the website builder Squarespace reached out about sponsoring Whosmarted, I decided to test it out. And now I feel safe. Silly for putting off building that website. Squarespace's blueprint AI thing literally built me a custom website in minutes. I just told it a few details about the project and boom. It generated everything. And everything you need is right there. I can schedule guest interviews, send email campaigns, even sell merch, all from one dashboard. Now it's your turn to stop procrastinating and start building. You can use Squarespace to launch that business site or any site that you've been dreaming about. But putting off today, there's no excuse anymore. Especially since you can head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, you can use Code smarted to save 10% on your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com smarted code smarted. This episode is sponsored by IXL. Look, I know back to school looks a little different when you're a homeschool family because maybe you're keeping up with your around rhythm or maybe you're starting fresh with new plans and goals. Either way, it is the perfect time to reset, refresh and find tools that make life easier. That's where IXL comes in. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that covers math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. It adjusts to your child's level, giving them just the right challenge at the right time. So learning feels motivating, not overwhelming. And what I love about Ixcel is how effortless it makes homeschooling. Everything is organized by grade and topic. So instead of hunting for lessons, you can jump straight into exactly what your child needs. And the real time feedback is a game changer. When kids make a mistake, IXL explains instantly, helping them learn and move forward with confidence. Plus, you can see their progress at a glance with detailed reports. Over 15 million students use IXL and more than 75 studies show that it really works. So make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL today. WhoSmarted listeners get an exclusive 20% off when you sign up at IXL.com WhoSmarted that's IXL.com WhoSmarted now back to WhoSmarted. Right now I'm standing in a pond along with my sarcastic frog friend who is showing me something they claim is amazing. But right now, all I can see is a jelly like substance on the side of a log. Wait. Lots of tiny black spots with itty bitty tails are starting to emerge from the jelly. What are they, smarty pants?

[A]

Do you know why? They're tadpoles, otherwise known as baby frogs.

[B]

Wow. So that means those jelly like blobs are actually eggs?

[A]

Exactly. The eggs protect them as they form. Of course, right now they have no arms or legs, just a long tail.

[B]

Wait, I see some other little frogs that must have hatched earlier. They've got arms and legs starting to poke out.

[A]

Yeah. Those frogs are about six to eight weeks old. In about three to four months, they'll lose their tail entirely and you'd never even know it existed.

[B]

Wow, look how many there are.

[A]

Yep. Of course not all of them are gonna make it. These guys are pretty defenseless against anything that wants to eat them.

[B]

Right, smarty pants? Can you guess which of these creatures like to eat baby frogs? Is it birds, fish, snakes or lizards?

[A]

Aha. Now who's the one being a wise guy? The answer is all of them seams were just delicious.

[B]

Nom nom nom nom nom. Yeah, frogs legs kind of taste like chicken.

[A]

Excuse me?

[B]

I mean, I've been told I would never.

[A]

Uh huh. Fortunately, some of us frogs have defense mechanisms we can use to protect ourselves. A lot of it depends on the species and where we live.

[B]

You mean like your cousin, the strawberry dart frog?

[A]

Exactly. But we're still pretty vulnerable to lots of creatures. In the water, on land, and flying above. Not to mention humans or trying to cross a six lane freeway.

[B]

Ooh, I used to love playing Frogger. That's an early video game. For any smarties who are wondering, one.

[A]

Of the best ways for frogs to avoid getting eaten Is to hide out under the water. Luckily, I can stay down at the bottom for an hour or two until the predator moves on.

[B]

An hour or two? How can a frog hold its breath so long, smarty pants? Do you know?

[A]

Simple Frogs have special skin. It not only serves the purpose of covering our body, it also allows us to inhale oxygen underwater through it.

[B]

But don't you have lungs? How else could you live on land?

[A]

We have lungs too. That we use on land. But most of the oxygen we need, we absorb through our skin. However, we do need to keep our skin moist or else it lights out. Also, we can drown in water that doesn't have enough oxygen in it.

[B]

I see. Is your skin moist now?

[A]

Yes, I'm good. Thanks for caring, Trusty. Of course, besides keeping our skin moist, we also shed our outer skin pretty regularly.

[B]

Like a snake.

[A]

Yep. Wanna know what we do with our skin after it comes off?

[B]

Uh, sure. What do you think, smarty pants? What do frogs do with their skin after they've shed it off their bodies? It's going to be gross, isn't it?

[A]

No, no, no, not at all.

[B]

Okay, good.

[A]

We eat it.

[B]

Thought you said it wasn't gonna be gross.

[A]

That's not gross. It's good protein and an easy snack. Humans chew their nails and eat their boogers, don't they?

[B]

Oh, no. People don't eat their fingernails. And only very young children snack on their boogers.

[A]

If you say so.

[B]

Anyway, on that note, I think I'm gonna hop off this lily pad and head home. There's some frogs that need my help across the highway. A ribbiting shout out to Maxwell in Los Angeles, California. You said who smarted teaches you interesting facts you never knew. We also hear you love the quizzes, the movie voice guy, and of course, Chad Nickerson. Thanks for being an all star smarty fan, Maxwell. This episode, Frogs was written by Dave Poison dart Davis and voiced by Justin Bullfrog Dodd and Jerry Colber. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Tree Frog Hahn who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic room studios. Our associate producer is Max Comintoad Komaski. The theme song is by Brian Spring Peeper Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Croaks Davis, who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.