Marine Toad
(Bufo marinus)
Order: Anuran
Family: Bufaonidae
Genus: Bufo
Species: Bufo marinus
|
|
HABITAT AND RANGE:
They occupy pools and arroyos for the
most part, but also live in a wide
variety of habitats throughout their
range. Their range extends from south
Texas and southern Sonoran Desert
through the Amazon Basin in South
America. They were introduced in Miami,
Florida as pets and in hopes that they
would help control insect populations,
but they quickly became pests. They ate
native frogs and toads and caused many
unaware dogs that licked them to become
ill. Since they have no natural
predators in Florida, they had a mild
population explosion and now are very
numerous. |
|
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Marine Toads are large, heavy-bodied
brown amphibians that can grow up to 6
inches long and may reach weights of up
to 6 lbs. They are the largest of all
the toads. The large, bulging eyes allow
the toad to have a wide range of vision
to find prey and avoid predators. They
secrete a highly toxic fluid from their
skin. They are characterized by the
deeply pitted parotid glands extending
far down the sides of their body. |
|
ADAPTATIONS:
The Marine Toad is well-adapted to avoid
predation. Not only is their skin
secretion highly toxic, but the eggs
laid by the female are also toxic. The
toxin is strong enough to make a dog
very ill, even to the point of dying.
Adult toads live on land, but need to
return to the water to breed. |
|
DIET:
The Marine Toad is carnivorous. They
will eat anything ranging from insects
to small mammals, as well as other toads
and frogs. At the Zoo they are fed
crickets and baby mice. |
|
REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
The eggs of amphibians are susceptible
to drying out; therefore they must be
laid in water. Breeding depends on the
rainy season and may occur from early
spring to autumn. The tadpoles turn into
tiny roads in a few weeks and reach
maturity in 2 or 3 years. Their call is
described as similar to the sound of the
exhaust noise of a distant tractor, or a
slow, low-pitched trill. They may lay up
to 20,000 eggs per clutch. |
|
STATUS IN WILD:
These toads are not in danger in the
wild. In Miami they were sold at pet
stores, but many were released. In
Australia, they were introduced to
control the sugar cane beetle. |
