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Publication #WEC300

 

Florida Invader: Cane Toad1

Steve A. Johnson and Monica E. McGarrity2

This fact sheet is best viewed as a pdf, available here: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/UW/UW34500.pdf

Figure 1. 

Cane Toad (Rhinella marina), also known as the "Bufo" Toad or Marine Toad Credits: Steve A. Johnson, University of Florida


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Cane Toads are native to South and Central America and have become established in central and southern Florida. Toads live on the ground and have stout bodies and dry, warty skin. The poison glands on the shoulders of Cane Toads produce toxins that can kill pets or make them very ill. Native Southern Toads and Oak Toads also have these glands, but their toxins are much less potent and are harmless to pets. Adult toads can be identified using the tips in the bulleted lists below—remember that body color can vary a lot. Native Southern Toads and invasive Cane Toads both lay long strings of eggs, and it is nearly impossible to tell their eggs and young apart. Cane Toads should be humanely euthanized by applying 20% benzocaine gel to the toad's belly and then freezing the toad.

How do I know if I have found a dangerous Cane Toad or a harmless native toad?

First, be sure it is a toad, then read on below to identify the species. Toads:

  • Live on the ground, and won't be found climbing walls like treefrogs

  • Have stout bodies

  • Have dry, warty skin

  • Have poison glands on their shoulders

Cane Toad—Invasive

  • Grows larger than 3 inches (young smaller)

  • Poison glands are large and somewhat triangular, tapering back to a point

  • No knobs or ridges on top of the head

Figure 2. 

Invasive Cane Toads have very large poison glands on their shoulders—these glands are somewhat triangular, tapering back to a point. Credits: Steve A. Johnson, University of Florida


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Southern Toads—Native

  • Rarely larger than 3 inches

  • Poison glands small and oval

  • Two obvious ridges on head end in knobs

Figure 3. 

Native Southern Toads (Anaxyrus terrestris) have small, oval glands on their shoulders and a pair of raised ridges or crests on top of their heads.


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Native Oak Toads

  • Never larger than 1.75 inches

  • Parotoid glands tiny and oval

  • No knobs or ridges on top of the head

Figure 4. 

Native Oak Toads (Anaxyrus terrestris) are very small toads, and have tiny, oval glands on their shoulders.


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Additional Information

For more information on Cane Toads, visit http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/frogs/canetoad.shtml.

Footnotes

1.

This document is WEC300, one of a series of the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date November 2010. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Steve A. Johnson, associate professor and Extension specialist, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida/ IFAS–Plant City Center, 1200 North Park Road, Plant City, FL 33563; Monica E. McGarrity, biological scientist, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida/ IFAS–Plant City Center, 1200 North Park Road, Plant City, FL 33563

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.