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Rhinella marina
About 12 cm in length.The cane toad has poison glands, and the tadpoles are highly toxic to most animals if ingested. Because of its voracious appetite, the cane toad has been introduced to many regions of the Pacific and the Caribbean islands as a method of agricultural pest control. The species derives its common name from its use against the cane beetle (Dermolepida albohirtum). The cane toad is now considered a pest and an invasive species in many of its introduced regions; of particular concern is its toxic skin, which kills many animals—native predators and otherwise—when ingested.
spotted near a river
It is also known as the giant neotropical toad or marine toad.
Spotted on Oct 15, 2012
Submitted on Oct 15, 2012
10 Comments
Thanks Daniele and Leuba for your comments.
@ Jolly: I hope we can hear some answers / opinions from the experts here in PN in connection with your question.
Question: What do we do now about this harmful invasive species?
A great photo Noel. I do feel sorry for the toad but it's killing a lot of native fauna here - one other big mistake in biological pest control !
Rhinella marina and Bufo marinus are the same species. Rhinella marina the latest binomial name for the species and is now used by the IUCN, Encyclopaedia of Life, Amphibian Species of the World and an increasing number of scientific publications.
No problem kabayan Jolly :-)
Sorry about that Noel. I just read that they have changed it to Rhinella marina.
Noel, please check on the scientific name. I think the introduced species here in the Philippines is Bufo marinus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_toad
welcome..:)
Thanks Irish!
Name is already changed to Rhinella marina. :)