Two Toads?
Submitted by fyl on Sat, 2012/06/23 - 10:03.
During the rainy season, one toad in the cacadora (it's sorta an outhouse but it isn't) is not uncommon. Today, however, it looks like it was time for them to have a meeting.
What kind of toads are these?
What kind of toads are these?
ugly...
ones..some are poisonous to dogs and small animals
I think they're a species in the cane toad family
Lola has learned not to try to bite them (she spent some time making faces the one time she tried), but she will paw them rather fiercely.
I think the ridges around the eyes are diagnostic.
Rebecca Brown
kiss me!
i am really a prince!
"Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'sir' without adding, 'you're making a scene." -Homer J. Simpson
that depends...
Are you the one on the right or the one on the left?
you know
with a name like che, you'd think i'd be on the left,,,,,,
btw, fyl licked me...... he's a toad licker!
Cane toads
Bufo marinus. They are a native species and very common. The large poison gland behind the eyes is the key indicator. If they are severely molested they will exude a white toxin which is poisonous to any person or animal dumb enough to eat it. Some dogs are smarter than other dogs.
We have several who guard our front door every night during the mosquito season and I frequently have to escort one out of the house. they will tend to urinate when picked up and I routinely wash my hands after touching them. The only time I have ever seen one exude poison was one in downtown Esteli that was beening stressed out by cars and people and had nowhere to hide.
This is the same species that has been an environmental plague in Australia and elsewhere where they have been introduced , but they are well adapted to their native land, in part because they are an òpportunist` species that adapts well to drainage ditches and empty lots. They are a terrestrial species and will drown if trapped in a well or other water source.
"You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality." Ayn Rand
Pretty calm, generally
They tend to just hang out and the dogs have decided that's fine. I expect there was some experience gained along the way. Ana told me that milk is the antidote for the toxin. Her story was that a dog bit one and seemed to be unconscious. A bit of milk and the dog was fine a few minutes later.
In the cacadora I used to escort them out. If you don't they don't seem particularly concerned that there is a human there a foot away from them.
Before I got Lola I had one in the house for a while
...and no cockroaches. They have rather chicken sized droppings but without the white parts.
I had another frog or toad (different species) that was more energetic and netted it to get it out, mainly to get it away from Lola, who learned not to bite them but who hits them with her paws.
The cane toads do an excellent job on the big cockroaches, and perhaps even mice.
Rebecca Brown
We had them
chasing ping pong balls on the living room floor one night.
"You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality." Ayn Rand
I suspect they get mice by pretending to be rocks
If I didn't have Lola, I'd be happy to have them in the house.
Rebecca Brown
Thanks Billy Bob
Does anyone eat them?
Once only
i would think. So far I haven`t run into anything about people eating frogs down here. The ones eaten in the US and Europe are bullfrogs that have comparatively large meaty legs and no toxins. There is some other toad down here that is toxic to touch, so reasonable care should be taken with playing with animals. Cane toads are common and predictable and quite docile. Nice to point them out to kids as a cute benificial animal but warn them of the poison.
I am not sure if this is one of the species that some people in the States lick to get high.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_toad
"You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality." Ayn Rand
I suppose with all the
I suppose with all the poisonous ones there, it isn't the first thought that comes to mind.
would u ..
eat a ugly toad..uckkk
just checking
I'm looking for another way to handle Che!
invite him..
to supper and feed him toad
Good idea!
Except he's probably reading this. LOL
aha! inspector clousseau here!
i have foiled your evil plans!
Sure
I will let you believe that.... :-)
aha! you are the kindest of evil adversaries!
"Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'sir' without adding, 'you're making a scene." -Homer J. Simpson