Coquina Daily

Friday, June 6, 2008

Cane Toads

Cane Toad Purse - Fritz Geller-Grimm

The Cane Toad (Bufo marinus), also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad native to Central and South America. It is a member of the subgenus Chaunus of the genus Bufo, which includes many different true toad species throughout Central and South America. The Cane Toad is a prolific breeder; females lay single-clump spawns with large numbers of eggs. Its reproductive success is partly because of opportunistic feeding: it has a diet, unusual among Anurans, of both dead and living matter. Adults average 4 to 6 in in length; the largest recorded specimen weighed 5.8 lb with a length of 15 in from snout to vent.

The Cane Toad has poison glands, and the tadpoles are highly toxic to most animals if ingested. Because of its voracious appetite, the Cane Toad has been introduced to many regions of the Pacific and the Caribbean islands as a method of agricultural pest control, notably failing in the case of Australia in 1935, and derives its common name from its use against the greyback cane beetle pests. The Cane Toad is now considered a pest in many of its introduced regions, because its toxic skin kills many native predators when ingested. It has many negative effects on farmers because of pets and animals eating the creatures. Recently large numbers of dead fresh water crocodiles have been found in Austrailia. It has been decided that the cause of death has been due to eating cane toads. Fresh water crocs are considerably smaller than the "salties" and the young crocs are not able to cope with the toxins.

In Australia, attempts have been made to make use of dead Cane Toads. Their skin can be made into leather, and comical canetoad purses, or coin-purses, retaining the toad fore-body, are sometimes seen (see accompanying photo). Cane toads have also been known to be a significant source of food for humans in their native environment; cane toads are cooked by skinning them and taking out the internal organs (including the poisonous glands), and then roasting them. Many people who have eaten cane toads say they are like chicken except with a drier taste.

In Australian states where the Cane Toad is common, some rather cruel 'sports' have developed, such as Cane Toad golf and Cane Toad cricket, where cane toads are used as balls. In April 2005, Dave Tollner, a Northern Territory Member of Parliament, called for legalization of attacking Cane Toads. This was criticized by many animal and conservation groups who claim freezing is a more humane way to kill cane toads than hitting them with cricket bats. The short film "Cane Toad - What happened to Baz?" displays an Australian attitude towards the Cane Toad. This film won the "Best Comedy" award at the 2003 St Kilda Film Festival. The film relies on humour which Australians especially connect with, and screenings in overseas festivals have been less well received.  link1  link2
portions suggested by Joan

Cane Toad - What Happened to Baz?

This video may not be for everybody. Some will think it funny in a perverse sort of way, while others may find it tasteless. Use discretion.

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Bullet-proof clothing

In Mexico, if you are rich or a politician or an honest cop, your life may be at risk. Columbian designer Miguel Caballero started making bullet-proof fashion in the 1990's when the drug cartels terrorized Columbia. Now he has opened up a shop in Mexico City. His fashions don't look like body armor, but they will stop a bullet from a .44 magnum. Prices start about $2000.  link1   link2

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Shaun the Sheep - episode 6

See yesterday for episode 5.
Some people have had trouble viewing episode 3 and 5 - try them again, I have changed the video provider. Aardman has been making copyright claims on videos posted to sites like YouTube. As a result these may not be available in the future.

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Today's Activities Schedule

7:45 & 8:45 Aqua Aerobics   
9:00 RES./STAFF BREAKFAST
10:00 SOCIAL COMM. MEETING
10.00 Cribbage
1:00 Hand & Foot
4:00 Pickle Ball
7:00 Men's & Ladies Poker
7:00 Mah-jongg

Tomorrow's Activities Schedule

Private Party in Ballroom
7:45 & 8:45 Aqua Aerobics
9:00 Tennis

See the complete calendar

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Click once a day to help feed rescue animals.

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Coquina Daily Cat

tiny cat by jayne vidheecharoen - link

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Coquina Daily Dog

say hello to señor pelone by James Allenspach  - link

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Sunset

beach flames by Andy - link