Crapaud with weight issues in my yard

August 17, 2016

An observation of the local cane toad (Rhinella marina), locally known as the crapaud in Trinidad and Tobago, highlights the ecological role, anatomical features, and behavioural adaptations of giant amphibians residing in residential gardens.

Written by author Nadia Ali for Sweet TnT Magazine, the narrative details personal encounters with an unusually large toad, exploring its nocturnal feeding habits, physical size, predator defence mechanisms, and environmental significance.

The article provides an informative overview of the native species, shedding light on its diet of garden pests, the presence of parotoid venom glands, and its contribution to the local ecosystem. Readers gain valuable insight into Caribbean wildlife coexistence, pest control dynamics, and the natural history of amphibians native to the region.

Key Takeaways

The cane toad or crapaud plays a critical role in controlling garden pest populations across Trinidad and Tobago.
Large physical proportions and prominent parotoid glands serve as primary biological defence mechanisms against potential predators.
Nocturnal foraging behaviours allow these amphibians to target insects and small invertebrates efficiently near residential properties.
Coexisting with native wildlife requires an understanding of species traits, defensive toxins, and local ecosystem dynamics.

Garden giant: The ecological role and habits of the local crapaud

By Nadia Ali. “The larger than life toads resemble something that hopped out of prehistoric times. The one in my backyard can barely jump because of weight issues.”

The natural habitat in Trinidad is full of frogs and snails and puppy dog tails – no, make that toads as big as whales. Yes, toads as big as whales! The larger than life toads resemble something that hopped out of prehistoric times. The one in my backyard can barely jump because of weight issues and stares without blinking regardless of how many of my camera flashes goes off in his face!

The toad species is known as a cane toad and locally called a crapaud. Its scientific name is “Rhinella Marina” and Google reinforces the reference I made to size as it states it is a “giant neotropical toad”.

Crapaud causing havoc in my garden

The rough-skinned amphibian has moved into my blissful garden causing havoc in the morning and scaring me in the night.

Most mornings when I water my little herb garden in the backyard, the chive stems are bent and some crushed into the soil, as if someone specifically came to stamp down on the chive.

While I knew it was something in Mother Nature’s world – I figured it must be a frog but it wasn’t until I bent over to lightly pull on the broken chive that I spotted a huge flat crapaud sunken into the soil staring at me. Needless to say, it caught me off-guard and I stumbled backwards trying to get away.

Not-so-handsome frog’s relative

Yes, I know it is a member of our local ecosystem, but surely is there somewhere else, anywhere else, it can live?

Upon finding it, I did what any person with a sound mind and mental agility would do – I ran for my handy dandy camera. Running out of the garden, through the house and again through the house and into the garden. Had he gone? Would I be able to capture a photo of the not-so-handsome frog’s relative? Who was I kidding?

It was still there, half sunken in the soil. It was definitely unglamorous, slumped in the dirt with eyes barely open. I outstretched my hand holding my camera so as not to get too close to its wart covered skin and limbs – not even Harry Potter would want to get close to this toad!

Trini crapaud slumped in the dirt

It seemed unperturbed, uninterested at the prospect of having his photo published in a magazine – I am sure his American cousin Kermit would have literally jumped at the chance. But the Trini crapaud remained slumped in the dirt. Was he just biding his time so he could go and crumple the chives again?

I continued snapping photos of him when I noticed he gave me a half smile! No doubt hoping for a fabled kiss so he could turn from one of Central’s carefree crapaud’s into a dashing prince. With my camera in hand, the only thing ‘dashing’ was me back into the house and grabbing my phone – who was I going to call? The Toad Busters!

October 2015 – Issue 18 www.sweettntmagazine.com

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