Cane Toad
In its native range—from the southern United States to northern South America—the cane toad is, well, just a big, ordinary toad.
- Common Name:
- Cane Toad
- Scientific Name:
- Rhinella marina
- Type:
- Amphibians
- Diet:
- Omnivore
- Group Name:
- Knot, nest
- Average Life Span In The Wild:
- 5 to 10 years
- Size:
- 4 to 6 inches
- Weight:
- 2.9 pounds
The cane toad hatches from an egg laid in water, begins its life as a tadpole, and eats pesky insects. Cane toads are active at night.
Cane toads have poison that can kill animals that try eating them. Predators in the toad's original range—including caimans, certain snakes, eels, and fishes—find cane toads tasty. Some are immune to their venom; others avoid the most venomous parts and can tolerate the venom they do eat.
In late March, the males begin calling their mates. Once a male attracts a female, they mate as the female lays her eggs. She lays from 4,000 to 36,000 eggs at a time in the water of a stream or pond. Tadpoles hatch from the eggs within about three days. As tadpoles, cane toads eat algae and other plants that grow in water. Cane toad tadpoles metamorphose, or change, into fully formed frogs in 12 to 60 days.