Category: Amphibians
The Cane Toad is a very large, terrestrial toad native to the extreme southern United States and Central and South America. The largest toad on record was 15 inches long and weighed almost 6 pounds! Once commonly exported outside their native countries as a means of pest control in sugarcane fields (hence the name “Cane Toad,” these toads have become invasive species in many locales. They have toxic glands that can be deadly to predators and curious pets, and must be handled cautiously. Their incredible appetites, long life spans, and easy breeding make them popular pets.
Learn more about the Cane Toad at Wikipedia and Reptiles Magazine.
Only a Mother’s Love…
We are taught that toads leave their fertilized eggs in the water in long strings, which hatch into tadpoles, who live in the water until they grow legs and lungs and become toads. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, there always has to be an exception to the rule: the male Suriname toad implants eggs into the female’s back, which sink into her skin and forms pockets where the eggs eventually hatch into tadpoles. These tadpoles live on their mother’s back until transforming into toads, at which point they burrow out of her skin in a fascinating or horrifying (or both) display, depending on your perspective.
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