Highly Toxic – The Cane Toad is tough and adaptable as well as being poisonous throughout its life cycle.
Image details
Contributor:
Adrian Page / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
BP3PJ9File size:
60.6 MB (2.3 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
5500 x 3852 px | 46.6 x 32.6 cm | 18.3 x 12.8 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
2010Location:
South East Queensland AustraliaMore information:
Cane Toad Bufo marinus Cane Toad, Bufo marinus, is one of the largest toads of the Bufo genus. Although the Cane Toad’s native habitat extends from the southern United States to tropical South America they have reached almost plague proportions in many locations in Australia especially in the state of Queensland and the Northern Territory In 1935 they were introduced from Hawaii to Australia in order to eat the French's Cane Beetle and the Greyback Cane Beetle. The 'whitegrub' larvae of these beetles eat the roots of sugar cane and kill or stunt the plants. But the Cane Toad’s insatiable appetite failed to limit the number of beetles as they turned their attention on consuming an enormous variety of Australia’s indigenous wildlife thus becoming a pest themselves. These amphibians have a dry warty skin. They have a bony head and over their eyes are bony ridges that meet above the nose. They sit upright and move in short rapid hops. On average adults grow to between 10-15 cm long, although the largest female measured in Queensland was 24 cm long and weighed in at 1.3 kg. Through all stages of the Cane Toad's life-cycle they are poisonous Adults have large swellings, parotoid glands, on each shoulder which produce a highly affective venom. When attacked a Cane Toad will turn one of its parotoid glands towards its assailant. The venom will either seep out of the glands or the toad can squirt a fine spray for a short distance. This toxin proves fatal to a vast variety fauna that comes in contact with it including freshwtaer crocodiles, snakes, birds and dogs. For humans it may cause intense pain and inflamation even temporary blindness. Cane Toads have few predators in Australia.