Largest toad

The largest species of toad is the cane or marine toad (Rhinella marina) of tropical Central and South America and introduced into the Caribbean, northern Australia and other islands of Oceania. An average specimen is 15–25 cm (6–10 in) long and weighs around 500–800 g (1 lb 2 oz–1 lb 12 oz), though it's not uncommon for the larger females to reach 1.5 kg (3 lb 5 oz).

One of the largest ever recorded specimens was a male named Prinsen ("The Prince"), owned by Håkan Forsberg of Åkers Styckebruk, Sweden. In March 1991, it weighed 2.65 kg (5 lb 13 oz) and measured 38 cm (1 ft 3 in) from snout to vent and 53.9 cm (1 ft 9.25 in) when fully extended.

In January 2023, reports emerged from Queensland, Australia, of a potentially even larger wild specimen: dubbed "Toadzilla", a ranger in Conway National Park found the female which was said to weigh in at 2.7 kg (5 lb 15 oz).

The cane toad was introduced to Australia in 1935 as a means to deal with crop damage by cane beetles (Dermolepida albohirtum), but the move backfired when the toxic toads rapidly proliferated and began to destabilize local ecosystems to the detriment of native wildlife. Cane toads are the most fecund amphibians, able to produce up to 35,000 eggs in a single clutch (and capable of having two clutches in a year).

Despite their name, marine toads do not dwell in the sea but in grassland and woodland areas, as well as on farmland and in suburban gardens.