Cane toad tadpoles cannibalise their competitors

Sheila A. -- The juvenile toads (cane toads) are known as eating their selves. A thing they do when they’re just a few days old. It shows that they do that to reduce competition and to get that extra nutritional boost they’ll need in their growth. The toads are a threat to the wildlife in Australia because they have so many. If they eat each other it could help there populations get control. Researchers from Sydney and James Cook University wanted to know why the Juvenile toad tadpoles eat the eggs of there own kind. Research showed that tadpoles that eat their own eggs grow and survive more better than the ones that don’t eat their own eggs. If they eat their eggs they will also improve their chances in their future. Cane toads are originally from South America but they were taken to Australia to control sugar cane pests in 1935. Now the toads are top 100 insidious species and considered feral pests all across north and eastern Australia. They can migrate 40km each year. Scientists are trying to find the cane toads’ weak spot to control their population. However research say these animals should not be well underestimated.

The passage crept me out because I do not like frogs that much. When it said that they were having a huge rate of population issues I thought to myself they could some day rule the ponds or something. I did find it gross that they ate their selves just to get strength and nutrition. It was very surprising. I am hoping that they (the scientists) find a weak spot on the toads no offence but they are somewhat of carnivores and they have a boost on their lives kind.

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