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American Toad (Bufo americanus) observation by Marnhull (#244)
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Observation on:
June 16, 2010 @ 16:00 | Posted on:
June 16, 2010 @ 18:27 (diff:
0 days)
American toad guarding my money.
Comments by Site Members (scroll to post comment)
By Lessa on
6/17/2010 6:35:40 AM
That's a good sized one! Yet another species not originally native to the island. Do you know anything about the history of the introduction of these guys? I didn't know the story about the hares you included in your posting of the snowshoe hare.
By Marnhull on
6/17/2010 11:13:02 AM
I think that's a young toad. I've seen a few American toads in the Codroy Valley that would fill an adult's hand. About the Snowshoe hare, I'm thinking they were a project of the Agricultural Society in St. John's mid-19th century. I'd have to recheck but I *think* I read that in DW Prowse's 'History of Newfoundland,' which itself was a project to celebrate Newfoundland's 400th anniversary of (re)discovery by John Cabot in 1497. It's a big book, but I'll see if I can find that entry. All I know about toads in Newfoundland is found here: http://www.fluvarium.ca/whatsnew.php?whatsnew
By Marnhull on
6/17/2010 5:45:41 PM
I found a reference in the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador under 'Hares.' Snowshoe hares (Newfoundland subspecies 'Lepus americanus struthopus') were introduced from Nova Scotia into Newfoundland between 1864 and 1876 by Stephen Rendall, President of the Newfoundland Agricultural Society. They were shipped in crates and released by magistrates in all parts of the island. Also, for years, many people thought the Snowshoe hare was responsible for driving the native Arctic hare north, but WE Mercer et al found no evidence for this theory.
By james on
7/11/2010 9:35:46 AM
Saw a toad in my garden in St. John's. Quite large; would fill an "an adult's hand"
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