Amphibians – Sarah Potter Writes

Oodles of water
chucked from grey into gulleys,
it rains frogs and toads.
The homeless warty man croaks,
if only it would rain coins.

Photos:

Addendum 1

Identifying Frogs and Toads

Both types of amphibians belong to the order Anura.
Generally, frogs have long legs and smooth skin covered in mucus, while toads have short thick legs and rough thick skin, often covered in warts. However, there are a few frogs with warts, and toads with smooth, moist, slimy-looking skin.
The hind legs of frogs are more powerful than those of toads. Frogs take long high jumps, while toads run or take short hops.
Frogs have narrower bodies than toads.
Frogs have higher, rounder, more bulging eyes than toads.
Frogs lay their eggs in clusters and toads lay their eggs in long strands.
Frogs need to live near water to survive but toads do not.
Frogs have loads of predators but toads have few predators due to their bitter taste and smell.
Frog and toad tadpoles are equally vulnerable to predators.
Neither frogs nor toads will give you warts, despite the old wives’ tale to the contrary.

Addendum 2

Facts about Homelessness (according to the UK charity Shelter)

300,000 (1 in 20) people in the UK are officially recorded as homeless or in inadequate accommodation.
281,000 people are in temporary accommodation.
21,000 people are in single homeless hostels and social services accommodation.
4,500 people are sleeping rough.

Tag: Amphibians