Mad as a Marine Biologist

High-res “Mating” Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) Walking through my parents garden in the dark last, I jumped at the sight of a massive toad. Not to worry, I told myself. It’s just one of Mum’s figurines. But Mum doesn’t have any frog figures….it really is just the biggest toad I’ve ever seen! Female Cane Toads are able to grossly inflate themselves to prevent unwanted suitors from copulating with them. Males develop “nuptial pads” on their first two fingers to help them hold onto females, making them near impossible to throw off. When the female inflates her body, is able to loosen the males grip making them slide off. No idea if this male got lucky, but they were very still, for a very long time! © Samantha Craven

“Mating” Cane Toads (Bufo marinus)

Walking through my parents garden in the dark last, I jumped at the sight of a massive toad. Not to worry, I told myself. It’s just one of Mum’s figurines. But Mum doesn’t have any frog figures….it really is just the biggest toad I’ve ever seen!

Female Cane Toads are able to grossly inflate themselves to prevent unwanted suitors from copulating with them. Males develop “nuptial pads” on their first two fingers to help them hold onto females, making them near impossible to throw off. When the female inflates her body, is able to loosen the males grip making them slide off.

No idea if this male got lucky, but they were very still, for a very long time!

© Samantha Craven

Notes

  1. windfcker reblogged this from ryo-tan
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  6. packbetawolf said: I did an Ethogram on them (Chaunus now btw) for the Behavioural Ecology course I did this pass sem here in Barbados, have to admit I miss the hrs of watching them, studying them was absolutely fantastic! Amplexus was the most fasicnating behaviour (=
  7. kamiike said: god these guys are invasive almost everywhere…
  8. lifefullofragefaces reblogged this from mad-as-a-marine-biologist
  9. almondsofjoy said: That’s one determine male toad.
  10. lady-lutra reblogged this from mad-as-a-marine-biologist
  11. clusterpod said: These are absolutely devastating vast, VAST areas of Australia. They’ve been here for decades and there was little concerted effort to deal with the problem until it was far too late. Its a tragedy.
  12. mad-as-a-marine-biologist posted this