The difference between frogs and toads can be determined scientifically but is based in the historic use of the terms frog and toad. These are Old English words for the common frog, "Rana temporaria," and the common toad, "Bufo bufo," both inhabitants of the British Isles. In the process of describing a new anuran species, scientists refer to it as a "frog" or a "toad" based on how similar it is to "R. temporaria" or "B. bufo." Therefore, all relatives of "R. temporaria" are called "true frogs" and all relatives of "B. bufo" are called "true toads." This article briefly describes the various defining characteristics of frogs and toads.