Australian Museum Herpetology Department

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Frequently asked questions

Cane toads

What is the classification of the Cane Toad?

Class Amphibia
Order Anura
Family Bufonidae
Genus Bufo
Species Bufo marinus

How many Cane Toads are there in Australia?

We don't know exactly how many Cane Toads are in Australia, but there are millions of them. Cane Toads occupy more than 500,000 square kilometres of Australia and have reached densities of 2,000 toads per hectare in newly-colonised areas of the Northern Territory. However the average density of toads in areas where they have been established for more than 20 years is much lower - about 80/ha in coastal Queensland towns.

Why have Cane Toads been so successful in Australia?

Cane Toads can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. They breed in almost any body of water and spawn very large numbers of eggs several times a season. Adults live a long time. Many of the diseases and parasites that keep Cane Toad populations under control in their native countries, are absent from Australia. Cane Toads eat a very wide range of animals, including small vertebrates as well as invertebrates, and they have adapted to feeding on non-living food such as processed pet food. Cane Toads have very few predators because they are toxic to most animals that try to eat them.

Where did Cane Toads come from?

The natural range of Cane Toads extends from the southern United States to tropical South America. They have been introduced to many areas including Florida, Caribbean islands, the Philippines, Hawaii, western Pacific islands and Papua New Guinea. Cane Toads were deliberately introduced to Australia from Hawaii in 1935.

How does Cane Toad venom work?

The venom produced by the toad's parotoid glands acts principally on the heart and contains digoxin-like cardioactive steroids. One component of toad venom, bufotenine, causes a rise in blood pressure and may have hallucinogenic properties. Cane Toads produce up to 100 pharmacologically active agents including catecholamines, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, bufotenine, bufagenins, and bufotoxins. Some of these components have been used in medical research.

What is the treatment for cats and dogs that have bitten Cane Toads?

Immediately wash out the animal's mouth with lots of water and take the pet to a vet. In the 1960s, vets in Hawaii treated poisoned dogs with alpha- and beta-andrenergic receptor blockers and atropine sulphate; Nembutal, Metrazol and oxygen were used in one case study.

Where can I find a guide to the dissection of a Cane Toad?

The anatomy of a Cane Toad is very similar to that of a frog. There are several web sites on the Internet that take you through an interactive virtual frog dissection.

What does a Cane Toad sound like?

The mating call of the male Cane Toad sounds like a high-pitched telephone dial tone or a long loud purring trill.

How can I tell a Cane Toad tadpole from the tadpole of a native frog?

Cane Toad tadpoles are shiny black on top and have a plain dark belly and a short thin tail. They swim close to the surface and sometimes gather in huge numbers in shallow water. They are smaller (less than 3.5 cm long) than many native tadpoles.

Are there any native toads in Australia?

Some native Australian frogs have been given common names such as Holy Cross Toad and Red-crowned Toadlet because they have short legs, thickset bodies and move in short hops. However they belong to an Australian family of frogs - the ground frogs or Myobatrachideae - and are not true toads. Scientists use the name 'toad' only for amphibians that belong to the family Bufonidae. True toads (Bufonidae) occur naturally on all continents except Australia.

What should I do if I find a Cane Toad?

Collect the animal while you are wearing gloves and your eyes are protected. Place it gently in a clean ice-cream container with some damp paper. Seal the container, keep it cool and take the animal to your local wildlife authority or natural history museum. Please confirm it is a Cane Toad before you dispose of it, because up to two-thirds of suspected toads turn out to be harmless native frogs.

How can I dispose of a Cane Toad humanely?

The temperature of a Cane Toad drops naturally with that of the temperature around it, so it is humane to kill a toad by lowering its body temperature. Place the Cane Toad in a sealed plastic bag and cool it in a refrigerator at 4°C for half an hour, then transfer the bag to a freezer.

Cane Toad spawn can be killed by lifting the strands from the water and laying them in the sun to dry out.

What use are Cane Toads?

In Australia, Cane Toads are the preferred species for amphibian dissections in university and high school biology courses. Their leather is soft and has been crafted into souvenirs such as wallets and purses. The many components of Cane Toad venom are being studied for their pharmacological properties and have the potential to be used in drugs to treat heart disease.

Where can I buy Cane Toad skin products?

There is a small industry producing toad novelties and leather products for the souvenir market.

The Australian Museum Shop stocks some Cane Toad products:


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