Cane toad

Rhinella marina

The cane toad is a large toad associated with Neotropical and Australasian forests, grasslands, and urban edges. It is a nocturnal carnivore.

Key facts

Cane toad (Rhinella marina) is a carnivore animal classified as Amphibian · Anura · Bufonidae.
Primary habitats are forest · grassland · urban, with a range across Neotropical · Australasian.
Activity is nocturnal, sociality is solitary, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
The cane toad is a large toad associated with Neotropical and Australasian forests, grasslands, and urban edges.
It uses forest, grassland, farmland, and towns.
Typical lifespan: 4-15 years

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

It uses forest, grassland, farmland, and towns. Freshwater ponds, ditches, or channels are needed for breeding.

Body length is about 10-24 cm and weight about 200-1500 g. It has a heavy body, large parotoid glands, and warty skin.

It is nocturnal and solitary. It walks over the ground to forage and shelters under cover or in soil during dry conditions.

It is carnivorous, eating insects and many other small animals. It may exploit insects gathered around artificial lights.

Females lay long strings of eggs in water. Tadpoles develop in freshwater and later metamorphose onto land.

Its conservation status is LC. In introduced regions, toxins and adaptability can create serious impacts on native wildlife.