"Toadzilla", A Toad Buffalo Weighing Almost 3 Kilograms, Was Caught: "He Eats Everything He Finds"

by Editorial Animalia

The giant female amphibian was killed shortly after discovery, as required by Australia’s anti-parasitic legislation. “I couldn’t believe his height and weight,” one ranger said

Australian rangers have found a giant buffalo toad weighing 2.7 kilograms. The female was unsurprisingly nicknamed Toadzilla (“toad” means toad in English). was spotted after a snake moving along a trail forced wildlife officials to stop as they were crossing Queensland’s Conway National Park. I bent down and picked up the toad. I couldn’t believe its size and weight, said ranger Kylee Gray, describing the amphibian’s discovery. A buffalo toad this size will eat anything it can fit in its mouth, including insects, reptiles and small mammals, he added.

The animal, an invasive species, was euthanized under the country’s parasite legislation. Buffalo toads were introduced to Queensland in 1935 to stem the spread of some beetles, with devastating consequences for local wildlife. Weighing 2.7 kilograms, it could break the record for the largest specimen of the species, according to a statement from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Although its age is unknown, this specimen has been around for a long time, Ms Gray said, explaining that the amphibian has a life expectancy of 15 years in the wild. Female Buffalo Toads can produce up to 30,000 eggs in one season.

Jan 20, 2023 (change Jan 20, 2023 | 3:25 p.m.)