Giant Neotropical Toad

Description:

The Cane Toad (Bufo marinus), also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad which is native to Central and South America, but has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean. It is a member of the subgenus Rhinella of the genus Bufo, which includes many different true toad species found throughout Central and South America. The cane toad is a prolific breeder; females lay single-clump spawns with thousands of eggs. Its reproductive success is partly because of opportunistic feeding: it has a diet, unusual among Anurans, of both dead and living matter. Adults average 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) in length; the largest recorded specimen weighed 2.65 kilograms (5.8 lb) with a length of 38 cm (15 in) from snout to vent.

Habitat:

The common name "Marine Toad" and the scientific name Bufo marinus suggest a link to marine life,[23] but the adult cane toad is entirely terrestrial, only venturing to freshwater to breed. Tadpoles have been found to tolerate salt concentrations equivalent to at most 15% that of seawater.[24] The cane toad inhabits open grassland and woodland, and has displayed a "distinct preference" for areas that have been modified by humans, such as gardens and drainage ditches.[25] In their native habitats, the toads can be found in subtropical forests,[22] although dense foliage tends to limit their dispersal.[26]