The Cane Toad

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BOULLENGER Simon

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Summary

Description

Distribution around the world

Diet

Defences and toxicity

predators

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Description

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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Distribution around the world

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It has been introduced in many parts of the world for the biological control of agricultural pests

Diet

Identify his prey thanks to his vision but also using his sense of smell.

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

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Defences and toxicity

When he feels threatened, the cane toad squirt white poison on

his back thanks to his paratoid glands on each shoulder.

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.

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Predators

No known real predator in Australia with the exception of snakes.

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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Thanks for your attention

And watch out for cane toads