Rhinella marina

Cane Toad

Threatened Status:
EPBC/NC/IUCN: Least Concern (Introduced)

Size:
Large, 150mm

Distinguishing features:
Large parotid gland on side of neck; grey mottling/flecking on underside; stocky appearance; leathery skin; large brow over eyes, 'M' shaped ridge between the eyes.

Characteristics:
Grey, olive-brown or beige colour with irregular dark markings (females) / olive-brown, beige (males) above with leathery, tough skin consisting of numerous warts and tubercles. Extensive webbing between toes. Stocky build, with prominent brow over eyes and large paratoid glands at back of head. Granular white underside with grey mottling and flecking. Juveniles characterised by orange flacking on their back.

Call:
Loud purring trill ('prrrrrrr') or slower pulsed 'put-tuh-tuh-tuh'. Described as a distant jack-hammer sound. Heard calling after rain in spring and summer. Males call from shallow water or wet ground beside water.

Breeding & Distribution:
Terrestrial species found in open forest, woodland and grassland, associated with ephemeral and semi-permanent water bodies. Common in urban and peri-urban areas and appears to favour sparse ground cover. Widespread distribution.
Darkly pigmented eggs are laid in long clear jelly strands in areas of shallow water.

Similar species:
Often mistaken numerous native brown frogs, including the Scarlet Sided Pobblebonk (Limnodynastes terraereginae), Great Barred Frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus), Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus) and the Ornate Burrowing Frog (Platyplectrum ornatum) but the latter four species have a smooth and mostly white underside. Also mistaken for the Tusked Frog (Adelotus brevis) and Dusky Gungan (Uperoleia fusca), however the two latter species have bright colouration (red, amber, yellow or orange) on legs or groin area.

Species description paraphrased by permission © Ed Meyer. Text must not be used without the author's permission.