cane toad
noun
: a large, brownish, poisonous toad (Rhinella marina synonym Bufo marinus) native to Central and South America, Mexico, and extreme southern Texas and introduced into other tropical and subtropical areas (such as Australia) where it has become an invasive species
Cane toads are seen as a major threat to biodiversity, not only because they voraciously out-compete some native species for food and consume others, but also because their skin toxins are thought to kill carnivorous predators which mistake them for local amphibians.—
Sheila Lunter
Sheila Luntercalled also giant toad, marine toad
Examples of cane toad in a Sentence
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Poisonous cane toads were imported to Australia, Hawaii and other areas from mainland Central and South America to try to control crop pests and ended up doing massive damage to native predators.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
Female cane toads lay upwards of 30,000 eggs per clutch twice a year.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
It’s been about 90 years since Australia introduced tropical cane toads (Rhinella marina) onto Queensland farms.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
Genetically modified, cannibal tadpoles may be the solution to Australia’s nearly century-old invasive cane toad problem.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
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Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
Female cane toads lay upwards of 30,000 eggs per clutch twice a year.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
It’s been about 90 years since Australia introduced tropical cane toads (Rhinella marina) onto Queensland farms.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
Genetically modified, cannibal tadpoles may be the solution to Australia’s nearly century-old invasive cane toad problem.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cane toad
Cite this Entry
“Cane toad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cane%20toad. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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