Animals

Facts about Cane toad

We found 18 facts about Cane toad

Rhinella marina

Poisonous toads got their bad reputation for being a pest in places they were artificially introduced to. Native to American continents, it is now present in dozens of countries where eradicates local animals which are not adapted to their toxins.

In Australia it spreads consistently across the continent, from the northeastern to the central part. To date, no remedy has been proposed for the cane toads infestation problem.

Cane toad
1
Its Latin name is Rhinella marina, and it belongs to the family Bufonidae.
It has many common names like "marine toad," "giant toad."
2
They are native to the Americas, from Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas through Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, Amazonia up to southern parts of Peru.
They are also present on some islands near Venezuela like Margarita or Trinidad and Tobago.
3
They were carelessly introduced into Queensland, Australia, in 1935.
It was hoped that they would eliminate the population of the destructive grey-backed cane beetle. They failed to defeat the insect but reproduced effortlessly in large numbers. Lack of natural predators contributes to the spread of the cane toad throughout the Australian continent.
4
They are very large amphibians.
Adult toads are 10-15 cm (4-6 in) long. Females are considerably larger than males. They weigh about 1,4 kg (3 lb).
5
The largest specimen of the cane toad was 39 cm (15,4 in) long.
Its enormous size was accompanied by a huge weight of 2,65 kg (5,84 lb).
6
The skin of the cane toad skin is dry and covered with warts, with distinct ridges running above the eyes and extending across the snout.
Cane toads may be colored grey, yellowish, reddish-brown, or olive-brown, with diverse blots and patterns. The underside is cream-colored and may have spots in shades of black or brown.
7
Juvenile cane toads have dark, smooth skin.
They lack the large parotoid glands of adults, so they are usually less venomous.
8
Their primary sense is vision.
When hunting, they rely on motion detection but support themselves with their sense of smell.
9
Cane toads are omnivorous.
They prefer meat to plants but tend to eat some greens from time to time. Toads feed mainly on invertebrates, little rodents, other amphibians and reptiles. Sometimes they are lucky to catch a bird and even bat. In urban areas, they may eat household waste or pet food, which is often left in bowls outside.
10
Their poisonous skin protects an animal from predators.
When threatened, the cane toad produces a milky-white toxic liquid called bufotoxin.
11
Tadpoles and eggs are also venomous.
12
The bufotoxin produced by the toad's skin is very dangerous to animals and can kill them quickly.
Dogs tend to be poisoned because they often bite or lick cane toads. Exposure to the toxin can cause drooling, loss of coordination, head shaking and convulsions.
13
Bufotoxin can also be fatal to humans.
Deaths have been reported after contact with the toxin, but more commonly, poisoned individuals experienced hallucinations, vomiting, pain, and visual disturbances occur in poisoned individuals.
14
Despite their chemical warfare, cane toads have many predators.
They are being hunted by broad-snouted caimans, eels, killifish, rock flagtails, bullet ants, and some species of catfish and ibis.
15
Their strategy while attacked is to stand still, release toxin and wait until predator gets poisoned and die.
Meat ants are invulnerable to toad's poison, so they consume immobilized animals alive.
16
It has become a pest in many host countries and poses a severe threat to native animals.
Native predators are not adapted to the toad's poison, which kills them.
17
It is considered an invasive species in over 20 countries.
Many examples of the cane toad moving into a new area lead to a decline in that territory's biodiversity.
18
In the wild, giant toads can live between 10 and 15 years.
The record-holder was a specimen that lived in captivity for 35 years.
Hungry for more facts?

Similar topics

15 facts about Glass frogs
15 facts about Glass frogs
Also known as see-through frogs
They are very unique animals which name originates from their translucent belly skin which allow to see their heart, stomach, intestines and liver. Th ...
16 facts about American bullfrog
16 facts about American bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
The American bullfrog, commonly referred to as simply bullfrog, is an invasive species native to North America. As one of the largest frog species, an ...
16 facts about Wolf spider
16 facts about Wolf spider
Not so venomous spiders
They are found in all climate zones except polar. Those active hunting spiders do not spin webs as they are active hunters. ...
32 facts about Argentina
32 facts about Argentina
The homeland of tango
It is said that the Argentines are like Italians speaking Spanish, they behave like the French and wish to be like the British. Argentina used to be o ...
15 facts about Ojos del Salado
15 facts about Ojos del Salado
The world's highest volcano
Ojos del Salado is a stratovolcano belonging to the Andes mountain range, located on the border between Argentina and Chile.With an altitude of 6891 m ...
16 facts about Poinsettia
16 facts about Poinsettia
One of the most popular Christmas decorations
It is a plant native to Mexico, where it is known as Flor de Nochebuena - the Christmas Flower. The Aztecs called it Cuetlaxochitl, which meant "star ...
15 facts about Paricutin volcano
15 facts about Paricutin volcano
Volcano in a cornfield
On February 20, 1943, Mexican farmer Dioniso Pulido noticed a small crack in his cornfield, and the ground nearby shook and became hot. About a month ...
17 facts about Pineapple
17 facts about Pineapple
Tasty fruit from Brazil
An aromatic fruit brought from South America to Europe by Cristopher Columbus is very popular due to its taste and health benefits. It is an ally of t ...

Latest topics

20 facts about beer
20 facts about beer
World’s third most popular beverage
It is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages produced. The first archaeological evidence of brewing dates back 13,000 years ago from the territory of I ...
15 facts about StarCraft
15 facts about StarCraft
The computer game classic of the 1990s
For gamers whose childhood and early youth were in the 1990s, StarCraft can evoke nostalgia. This already classic title lived to see a sequel in 2010, ...
12 facts about capybaras
12 facts about capybaras
The world’s largest rodent and social media star
The capybara, the largest rodent known to us today, is an animal with a very pleasant disposition and appearance, living both an aquatic and terrestri ...
20 facts about Amazon River
20 facts about Amazon River
Its basin covers nearly half of South America
In the year 1500, European explorers stumbled upon one of the most remarkable wonders on the planet: the amazing Amazon River. This majestic waterway ...
13 facts about churro
13 facts about churro
A dessert worth the sin
Churros are known to all lovers of Spanish and Latin American cuisine, but few may realize that their genesis, in all likelihood, took place in the Fa ...
29 facts about Colorado
29 facts about Colorado
Centennial State
Colorado is one of the larger American states, bordered by longitude and latitude. The state is famous for its varied landscape of mountains, forests, ...
18 facts about Roland Garros
18 facts about Roland Garros
French pioneer of aviation who played tennis only a few times in his life
Roland Garros was a French aviator who played an important role in the history of aviation. He began his aviation career in 1909 and achieved many aer ...
24 facts about Sri Lanka
24 facts about Sri Lanka
The “Land of Smiles”
Sri Lanka is an island country in the Indian Ocean. Previously, until 1972, both the country and the island on which it lies were known to the world a ...

Similar topics