Comments on: Dog-Sized Toadzilla Captured

By: cradossk

cradossk — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:12:09 +0000

Rillo777 - the cane toad was introduced to Australia (north Queensland to be specific) in 1935 in an attempt at biological control. (the accidentally introduced Cane beetle was happily chomping away at our sugar cane crops - so, with the Toad being the natural arch enemy of the beetle, it would have seemed like a good idea).

Too bad the toads quickly figured out that native reptiles, frogs and insects were much easier to catch than those pesky cane beetles, and too bad the native predators (eg. snakes, birds, goannas, etc) didn’t figure out that this seemingly large, tasty morsel was also poisonous.

The cane toad has now spread across the north of Australia, and can be found in almost all coastal areas of the northern territory and northern Queensland.

I’ve actually seen recently (as in, 5 years ago) dead cane toads on their backs, with their guts eaten out, but their poison sacks intact. The predators are learning how to eat them…. *enter spooky music*

By: kamoeba

kamoeba — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:36:38 +0000

I loved the headline stating that it was the size of a small dog. I think it makes the average person picture a toad about 3 feet (or about 1 meter) long. Sure, the toad’s large size is surprising, but equally surprising to me would be an 8-inch long dog. Thanks again, mass media, for blowing things out of proportion.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:08:07 +0000

MBFH- Really interesting article in that link you posted! Thanks for putting that up.

By: youcantryreachingme

youcantryreachingme — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 03:25:34 +0000

The size may be incorrectly reported. I’ve seen it here reported as 15 inches, in a European newspaper as 18 inches, but in the first story I found, run by Sydney Morning Herald yesterday, it reported 20 centimeters (about 8 inches).

This would be from snout to vent, not counting extended legs (which is perhaps where the larger figures are coming from).

According to Wikipedia though, the largest cane toad caught in Australia was a whopping 38 centimetres (15 inches) and 2.65kg (5.84lb).

Chris.

By: MBFH

MBFH — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:59:15 +0000

I read about this big bugger today and hoped he’d make an appearance here. Linked to this is an interesting story about how native snakes have adapted/evolved to cope with these aliens!

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:40:51 +0000

Well, Rillo777, there have been a lot of species that were imported for various purposes that seemed like a good idea at the time. A lot of times, the effects that the species will have on the ecosystem are not seen or even guessed at until it is too late, even if you have done your homework on the species in question. So many factors can be involved that there often is no telling how a non native species will behave or what effect it will have in a new ecosystem. Although the species was brought over with the best intentions, it sometimes ends up becomeing a major problem. You also might be suprised how little thought is given to this possibility in some cases before some of these species are introduced.

By: Rillo777

Rillo777 — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:19:20 +0000

Importing poisonous toads–who thought of that brilliant idea?

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:28:15 +0000

That certainly is a big, big toad.

By: bill green

bill green — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:23:20 +0000

hey loren & everyone wow now thats a realy big frog in the sence of term. i hope this frog researched in the right manner without killing it but to protect it from harm. thanks bill

By: JustinC

JustinC — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:17:13 +0000

It says they are killing them with carbon dioxide.. Dosen’t that just make things pass out, then die sort of humanely? Dosen’t seem too harsh on the toads.. PETA may not attack..