Category: Amphibians
The Cane Toad is a very large, terrestrial toad native to the extreme southern United States and Central and South America. The largest toad on record was 15 inches long and weighed almost 6 pounds! Once commonly exported outside their native countries as a means of pest control in sugarcane fields (hence the name “Cane Toad,” these toads have become invasive species in many locales. They have toxic glands that can be deadly to predators and curious pets, and must be handled cautiously. Their incredible appetites, long life spans, and easy breeding make them popular pets.
Learn more about the Cane Toad at Wikipedia and Reptiles Magazine.
An Ample Amphibian
Before reptiles and mammals appeared to challenge amphibian supremacy on the land, amphibians were much larger. But while they have shrunk in size over the last 315 million years, the Chinese Giant Salamander never got the memo: at up to 5.9 feet in length and 66lbs, this amphibian is longer than your dog, and probably weighs at least as much! Compare that to Paedophryne amanuensis, the world’s smallest frog (and smallest vertebrate) who is the size of a house fly! Due to habitat loss, environmental changes, and over-hunting/collecting, the Chinese giant Salamander is critically endangered, though conservation efforts to save it are underway today.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
