UPDATE ~ They've almost all hatched!

(Click on images and hit "full size" to enlarge)

Some Hatching

 LOTS Hatching!

From what I understand, the first day or more they eat the protective covering.  And then I need to get some lettuce boiling. - How to Raise Tadpoles

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 Eastern American Toad

There has been much excitement in our house today.  The kids found some eggs in a nearby pond, well it's more like a water hole.  After looking them up, we think we have Eastern American Toad eggs, they are the only ones that seem to fit the description (Frog and Toad Egg Identification)  They are in long strands, like a necklace and the little babies inside are black.  If anyone is an expert in this area, do you know if we are right in our assessment that they are American Toads?  I've never hatched tadpoles, so I guess we've got some research to do!  You can click on the below image and hit "full size" to enlarge.

Resources:

 Peepers and Leapers - Study comparing two life cycles of a frog and toad (Spring Peeper and American Toad)

Main differences between toads and frogs:

- Toads have rough and bumpy skin, frogs are smooth and shiny

- Toads' eggs are laid in strings, frogs' eggs are laid in masses.

- Toads hibernate in the ground, many frogs hibernate in mud, ponds and lakes.

- Toads generally feed at night, most frogs feed during the day.