Cane toad
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?
Subscribe to Google News Random topic
15 facts about common Surinam toad
15 facts about common Surinam toad
Pipa pipa
An ugly pokey frog with a triangular head fixed lidless eyes, and a pair of tentacles on its mouth that draws attention by its unusual way of reproduc ...
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 European tree frog
16 facts about European tree frog
Hyla arborea
These popular anuran amphibians are small frogs with very interesting characteristics. They are excellent climbers, often living in trees but can also ...
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. ...

Latest topics

42 facts about Kyshtym disaster
42 facts about Kyshtym disaster
The first nuclear accident in Earth's history
Before information about it saw the light of day, the Soviets hid it for over 30 years. The explosion at the Mayak combine was the first nuclear accid ...
37 facts about Saint Petersburg
37 facts about Saint Petersburg
A city of many names
It was a dream and a matter of prestige for the Romanov dynasty to gain access to the Baltic Sea and build a metropolis to testify to Russia's emergin ...
32 facts about Peter the Great
32 facts about Peter the Great
The first Emperor of all Russia
Peter the Great is considered one of Russia's greatest rulers. He was a great reformer, strategist, and builder who was the first of the tsars to trav ...
39 facts about Dyatlov Pass incident
39 facts about Dyatlov Pass incident
Mysterious tragedy in the Ural mountains
The case of a group of students at the Ural Polytechnical Institute in Sverdlovsk continues to arouse great interest and raise many questions. A group ...
11 facts about Brooklyn Bridge
11 facts about Brooklyn Bridge
The first steel suspension bridge in the world
It is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the world. It connects Brooklyn with Manhattan, runs over the East River, and was completed in 1883. ...
31 facts about Brazil
31 facts about Brazil
South America's largest country
Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America and one of the largest and most populous countries in the world. A former Portuguese ...
44 facts about Ghent
44 facts about Ghent
City of three towers
Ghent is one of Belgium's most visited cities by tourists. This beautiful old Flanders city combines dignity, beauty, culture, and creativity. It is a ...
31 facts about Thailand
31 facts about Thailand
A country on the Indochinese Peninsula
Thailand is an Asian country located in its south-eastern part, famous for its interesting culture and religious architecture. This exotic country, wh ...

Similar topics

Common Surinam toad
15 facts about common Surinam toad
An ugly pokey frog with a triangular head fixed lidless eyes, and a pair of tentacles on its mouth that draws attention by its unusual way of reproduc ...
Glass frogs
15 facts about Glass 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 ...
American bullfrog
16 facts about American bullfrog
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 ...
European tree frog
16 facts about European tree frog
These popular anuran amphibians are small frogs with very interesting characteristics. They are excellent climbers, often living in trees but can also ...
Wolf spider
16 facts about Wolf spider
They are found in all climate zones except polar. Those active hunting spiders do not spin webs as they are active hunters. ...
Ojos del Salado
15 facts about Ojos del Salado
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 ...
Hummingbirds
15 facts about hummingbirds
Hummingbirds first appeared on Earth about 22 million years ago in South America. To this day, they live exclusively in the intertropical zone of the ...
Paricutin volcano
15 facts about Paricutin volcano
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 ...
Easter Island
29 facts about Easter Island
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is a corner and special territory of Chile in the Pacific Ocean, one of the world's most remote inhabited places. It is small ...
Argentina
32 facts about Argentina
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 ...
Charles Darwin
25 facts about Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was one of the most influential figures in human history. The co-author of the theory of evolution, Alfred Russel Wallace, declared tha ...
Toco toucan
16 facts about toco toucan
The Toco Toucan is the largest and best-known species of toucan found in the tropical forests of South America. It is one of the most popular birds in ...