3. Description
Venomous animals : Cane toad
Very large : 10-15 cm of average length (up to 38 cm)
Life expectancy : 10 to 15 years in the wild but longer in captivity
Color : grey, yellowish, red-brown or olive-brown
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4. Distribution around the world
Venomous animals : Cane toad
It has been introduced in many parts of the world for the biological control
of agricultural pests 4
5. Diet
Identify his prey thanks to his vision but also using his sense of
smell.
Venomous animals : Cane toad
Normal preys : rodents, reptiles, amphibians birds and a range of
invertebrates.
They are used to swallow their preys.
They can eat also : plants, dog food or household refuse.
the range of things it can eat is very wide : allowing him to
reproduce and expand easily 5
6. Defences and toxicity
When he feels threatened, the cane toad squirt white poison on
his back thanks to his paratoid glands on each shoulder.
Venomous animals : Cane toad
Venom composed by 14 differents chemicals, in particular
Bufotenin
Said to be produced thanks to bacterias it has in its body
Bufotenin is listed in the Class 1 drug under Australian law : it causes
hallucinations.
Can cause rapid heartbeat, excessive salivation, convulsions and
paralysis. 6
7. Predators
No known real predator in Australia with the exception of snakes.
Venomous animals : Cane toad
But others animals are known to eat cane toads but they have died
because of his toxic venom : freshwater crocodiles, dingos or tiger
snakes… even dogs
But some predators can put the toad on his back to make it become
harmless.
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