Cane Toadオオヒキガエル

Rhinella marinaLC— Least Concern

The cane toad is a large, highly toxic toad native to Central and South America, infamous for becoming one of the world's most damaging invasive species after being deliberately introduced to Australia in 1935 as a failed biological pest-control measure. Its skin secretes potent bufotoxins that are lethal to many native predators lacking evolved resistance, driving declines in monitor lizards, snakes, crocodiles, and quolls across northern Australia. Now also established in Florida, Hawaii, the Philippines, and parts of Japan, it remains listed among the 100 worst invasive alien species worldwide.

Cane Toad (reference photo)
Photo: C. Brück / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Anura / Bufonidae Source
Distribution
Native to Central and South America from the Rio Grande Valley to the central Amazon; introduced as a failed pest-control measure to Australia, Hawaii, Florida, the Philippines, and elsewhere, where it is now a major invasive species. Source

Did You Know?

  • In August 1935, 102 toads were brought from Hawaii to Australia to control cane beetles, but the beetles lived atop plants beyond the toads' reach, and the failed control effort had already produced 62,000 toadlets by March 1937. Source
  • Its skin and parotoid glands secrete potent bufotoxins; contact with the eyes can cause blindness, and ingesting enough toxin can trigger fatal cardiac arrest. Even its eggs and tadpoles remain toxic. Source
  • In Australia, native predators such as monitor lizards, snakes, and crocodiles have no natural resistance and often die after eating cane toads, a pattern linked to local extinctions of northern quolls in Kakadu National Park; the species is listed among the world's 100 worst invasive alien species. Source

Where to See This Species

1 facilities · 0 individuals

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

名古屋市東山動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

原産地でのIUCN評価はLC（低懸念）です。一方、導入先では生態系への影響を抑える対策が課題です。

Habitat

原産地の熱帯・亜熱帯の森林、草地、水辺。

Threats

  • 原産地の生息環境の改変
  • 導入先での生態系への影響
  • 病原体の拡散

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

  • 導入先での個体数管理
  • 在来種への影響の調査
  • 外来生物問題を伝える教育展示

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why was the cane toad introduced to Australia?
In 1935, 102 toads were imported from Hawaii to control cane beetles damaging sugarcane crops, but the beetles lived atop plants out of the toads' reach, so the plan failed while the toad population exploded uncontrollably. Source
How dangerous is cane toad toxin?
Its skin and parotoid glands secrete bufotoxins that can blind on contact with the eyes and cause fatal cardiac arrest if enough is ingested; even its eggs and tadpoles remain toxic to predators. Source
What ecological damage has the cane toad caused?
Native Australian predators such as monitor lizards, snakes, and crocodiles have no resistance to its toxin and often die after eating one, a pattern connected to sharp local declines in species like the northern quoll. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org