cane toad

American  

noun

1. a large brown toad, Bufo marinus, of tropical America, toxic to animals eating it and once exported to help control sugarcane beetles.

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cane toad British  

noun

1. Also called: giant toad.   marine toad.  a large toad, Bufo marinus , native to Central and South America but introduced into many countries to control insects and other pests of sugar-cane plantations

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Example Sentences

Though if it had been a cane toad - one of the country's most damaging, and ugly pests - that would be another story, she said.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

And Ward-Fear’s team is now evaluating cane toad aversion for protecting crocodiles and aquatic monitors.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 15, 2024

Dr Ward-Fear says this study tracks Australia's largest cane toad mitigation strategy to date, so upscaling the methodology from individual trials to the ecosystem level was an exercise in logistics and collaborative partnerships.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2024

Native to South America and mainland Central America, the cane toad was introduced into Queensland in 1935 to help control the cane beetle population.

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023

A cane toad so giant wildlife officers thought it was fake has been found in a north Australian rainforest.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2023