The glorious Cane Toad, Giant Toad and Marine Toad (Rhinella marina or previously Bufo marinus). This infamous species has been busy extending its world-wide distribution (with our help) to a point verging on #WorldDominance. For almost 100 years, humans have been moving this species around the globe from it’s home range in northern South America. Now it’s an invasive species in Australia, Hawaii and South Florida (probably other places too). It’s devastating impact on natural ecosystems has been well documented and even featured in one of my favorite ‘documentaries’ Cane Toads (1985) (Do yourself a favor and see it if you haven’t yet.) Cane Toads are the perfect invaders. A single female can lay up to 40,000 eggs a year! How many amphibians can do that?? (How much easier our job would be if Flatwoods Salamanders could lay that many eggs!) Not only that, but Cane Toad eggs are toxic! No tasty snacks for animals that normally enjoy frog caviar. Cane Toads are toxic in every life stage. Any animals ‘higher’ in the food web than a Cane Toad are immediately killed by trying to eat the animal. Animals on the same trophic level are easily out competed by an animals that has 10s of thousands of offspring a year. To top if off, Cane Toads eat everything (well, anything they can fit in their mouths). Any ecosystem they invade is eventually ‘cut off at the knees’ That said — They really are also quite charming. The animal in this photograph is #Princess - one of our #ConservationAmbassadors at @amphibianfoundation . She helps us carry the #AmphibianConservation message. She came to us from #ReigningReptiles in Buford as a wonderful donation. #CaneToad #GiantToad #Rhinella #Bufo #Toad #Toads #FrogsOfInstagram #ToadsOfInstagram (at The Amphibian Foundation, Inc)
