They are in folklore

Going into folklore, Dr. Anslem de Silva says that some beliefs and traditions indicate that humans have attributed supernatural powers to amphibians. Frogs as a symbol of water purification have figured in art from the 6th century AC. They have also considered them as bringing good luck.

This is while the story of Manduka devaputta records that the Bodhisatta was born as a frog in the Haritamata Jataka.

Meanwhile, antidotes for poisoning by amphibians have been documented in traditional medical works from the 4th century AD, he says quoting from Chapter 2 of the guide.

Some of the beliefs on the good qualities of frogs recorded in the guide include:

◼ Seeing a frog or a toad when leaving on a journey presages a good journey.

◼ Dreaming of frogs indicates that the particular person will be blessed with children or riches.

◼ House toads are considered protectors of buried treasure.

◼ The Duttaphrynus melanostictus which hides in cool dark places in human dwellings during the day is never chased away.

◼ The terrestrial activities of tree frogs indicate a drought, while the absence of frogs and toads in agricultural fields indicates impending crop failure.

◼ The beliefs linked to poisonous, evil or mysterious aspects of frogs:

◼ Parents advise their children not to kick toads lest they be envenomed by the cloacal end of the toad (refer de Silva and de Silva, 2000).

◼ The common tree frog of Sri Lanka or the Chunam tree frog ( Polypedates maculatus) is feared due to a belief that if it leaps on children they would become consumptive and attenuated like that frog.

◼ Some believe that merely touching a tree frog may result in being infected with leucoderma (developing pale patches on the skin).

◼ If a tree frog is seen in a house when there is a domestic problem, it is attributed to it.

◼ Those who dabble in witchcraft consider the house toad ( Duttaphrynus melanostictus) to be the vehicle used by departed inmates to get about.