The cane toad is a large, warty-skinned amphibian native to Central and South America, deliberately introduced to numerous countries including Australia in the 20th century in a failed attempt to control agricultural pests, becoming one of the world's most notorious invasive species in the process. It has large parotoid glands behind the eyes that secrete a potent toxin capable of killing many native predators that attempt to eat it, a defense against which many introduced ecosystems have no natural resistance. Cane toads are highly adaptable and prolific breeders, with females capable of laying tens of thousands of eggs at a time, and they feed opportunistically on insects, small vertebrates and almost anything they can swallow. In Australia in particular, the toad's rapid spread across the tropical north has caused severe declines in native predators such as quolls, goannas and some snake species that die after eating them.
Facts
Classification
Relationship to PeopleInvasive or Introduced Species 2 Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status (w-bfill-g5-0924 browse backfill). Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceThe skin of the cane toad is dry and warty. Distinct ridges above the eyes run down the snout. Individual cane toads can be grey, yellowish, red-brown, or olive-brown, with varying patterns. A large parotoid gland lies behind each eye. 1 Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Sources
1. Cane Toad (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationTaxonomy section
changing the binomial name from Bufo marinus to Rhinella marina
Description section
The skin of the cane toad is dry and warty. Distinct ridges above the eyes run down the snout. Individual cane toads can be grey, yellowish, red-brown, or olive-brown, with varying patterns. A large parotoid gland lies behind each eye.
Taxobox conservation status field
status = LC
View the Source 2. Wikipedia: Cane Toad
Wikipediasystem (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly, relationship to people)Quote, system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly, relationship to people)
The cane toad, also known as the giant neotropical toad or marine toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad native to South and mainland Central America, but which has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean, as well as Northern Australia.
Catalogue of Life
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.