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
Recent Examples on the Web
If a cane toad enters a bowl of pet food or water, their toxins will contaminate it, and pets can ingest the poison that way.
—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
And with so many other invasives now eating their way through the Everglades — species like Burmese pythons, Nile monitors, green iguanas, and cane toads — federal and state wildlife managers haven’t always paid enough attention to the impacts that Asian swamp eels are having.
—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
12 Mar. 2026
Well, unfortunately for at least cane toads, some other animals have developed adaptations to their toxic steroids.
—
Regina G. Barber,
NPR,
19 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for cane toad
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Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
And with so many other invasives now eating their way through the Everglades — species like Burmese pythons, Nile monitors, green iguanas, and cane toads — federal and state wildlife managers haven’t always paid enough attention to the impacts that Asian swamp eels are having.
—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
12 Mar. 2026
Well, unfortunately for at least cane toads, some other animals have developed adaptations to their toxic steroids.
—
Regina G. Barber,
NPR,
19 Aug. 2025
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
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 Jul. 2026.
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