Marine Toad
Rhinella marina - Sapo comun
Anatomy:
The cane toad is very large; the females are significantly longer than males, reaching an average length of 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in).
"Prinsen", a toad kept as a pet in Sweden, is listed by Guinness World Records as the largest recorded specimen. It reportedly weighed 2.65 kg (5.84 lb) and measured 38 cm (15 in) from snout to vent, or 54 cm (21 in) when fully extended.
The skin of the cane toad is dry and warty. It has distinct ridges above the eyes, which run down the snout. Individual cane toads can be grey, yellowish, red-brown, or olive-brown, with varying patterns.
A large parotoid Cane Toad has a large parotoid gland that lies behind each eye. The ventral surface is cream-coloured and may have blotches in shades of black or brown. The pupils are horizontal and the irises golden. The toes have a fleshy webbing at their base, and the fingers are free of webbing.
Taxonomic Notes:
This species was one of many species described by Linnaeus in his 18th-century work Systema Naturae (1758). Linnaeus based the specific epithet marina on an illustration by Dutch zoologist Albertus Seba, who mistakenly believed the cane toad to inhabit both terrestrial and marine environments.
Natural History:
They have a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years in the wild, and can live considerably longer in captivity, with one specimen reportedly surviving for 35 years. Rhinella marina reproduces at almost any time of the year unless the temperature is too cold, laying thousands of eggs, encased in gelatinous strings, in any temporary or permanent body of water, including brackish waters.
In Australia, marine toads (known in Australia as cane toads) were introduced to Gordonvale, just south of Cairns on the east coast of Queensland, to control cane beetles (Dermolepida albohirtum) and Frenchi beetles (Lepidiota frenchi). Their failure to control cane beetles and their subsequent spread north, south, and west at rates of 25–30 km/yr quickly lead to their current status as a pest species.
By the 1950s, marine toads had spread throughout most of the eastern seaboard of Queensland and northern New South Wales; in 1986, they had reached Calvert Hills Station in the Northern Territory. To date, marine toads have colonized 500,000–785,000 km2 of eastern Australia, including 50% of Queensland, and continue their northwesterly advance. In northern Australia, marine toads reached Mataranka in 1999 and entered Kakadu National Park (a World Heritage area) in the summer of 2000/2001.
Habitat:
In Manuel Antonio this toad inhabits open grassland and woodland, and has displayed a "distinct preference" for areas modified by humans, such as gardens and drainage ditches. In their native habitats, the toads can be found in subtropical forests, although dense foliage tends to limit their dispersal. Clutch size is between 8,000 and 17,000. Eggs and tadpoles are poisonous and displace native tadpoles. It may sometimes breed in slightly brackish water in Hawaii. Larvae are tolerant of high temperatures.
Diet:
Most frogs identify prey by movement, and vision appears to be the primary method by which the cane toad detects prey; however, the cane toad can also locate food using its sense of smell. They eat a wide range of material; in addition to the normal prey of small rodents, reptiles, other amphibians, birds, and even bats and a range of invertebrates, they also eat plants, dog food, and household refuse.
Caution:
When this species is threatened or handled, it secretes a highly toxic milky substance from its large parotoid glands at the back of its head, behind the ears. This secretion can burn your eyes, may irritate your skin, and can kill cats and dogs if they ingest the secretion. Symptoms of Marine Toad poisoning in pets include drooling, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination, and, in more serious cases, convulsions. The dog's (or cat's) gums often turn red, an indicator used by veterinarians to distinguish toad poisoning from epilepsy. For this reason, pet owners should be familiar with their pet's normal gum color. Treatment: If you suspect toad poisoning, get a hose and run water in the side of the dog's/cat's mouth, pointing the animal's head downward so water isn't swallowed. Rub the gums and mouth to remove the toxin. This treatment is usually successful, but call your veterinarian immediately.
Status:
It is a very abundant species, and its range is increasing.
Where in Manuel Antonio-Quepos can we find this specie:
- Manuel Antonio National Park:
- Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge:
- Manuel Antonio Wildlife Refuge:
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