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Homescience

Cane Toad: The Amphibian Whose Eggs Look Like Jewels

Cane toads appear ordinary, yet their breeding reveals stunning jewel-like egg strands. Beautiful but toxic, these shimmering chains highlight survival, invasion, and nature’s deceptive brilliance.

Gurpreet Singh | November 16, 2025 / 17:14 IST
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1. Cane Toad: Cane toads are large, tough amphibians known for their invasive spread and remarkable breeding habits, especially their jewel-like egg strands. (Image: Canva)
1. Cane Toad: Cane toads are large, tough amphibians known for their invasive spread and remarkable breeding habits, especially their jewel-like egg strands. (Image: Canva)
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2. Notorious Invader: Originally from Central and South America, cane toads invaded new regions, thriving rapidly and disrupting delicate ecosystems wherever they spread. (Image: Canva)
2. Notorious Invader: Originally from Central and South America, cane toads invaded new regions, thriving rapidly and disrupting delicate ecosystems wherever they spread. (Image: Canva)
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3. Jewel-Like Eggs: Their eggs resemble glittering jewellery strands, forming long translucent strings adorned with dark beads that shimmer beautifully underwater. (Image: Canva)
3. Jewel-Like Eggs: Their eggs resemble glittering jewellery strands, forming long translucent strings adorned with dark beads that shimmer beautifully underwater. (Image: Canva)
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4. Toxic Protection: Even the eggs contain potent toxins, effectively deterring predators and offering young cane toads a strong defensive advantage before hatching. (Image: Canva)
4. Toxic Protection: Even the eggs contain potent toxins, effectively deterring predators and offering young cane toads a strong defensive advantage before hatching. (Image: Canva)
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5. Quick Healing: Depending on temperature, these unique eggs hatch swiftly, transforming into tadpoles within twenty-four to seventy-two hours after being laid. (Image: Canva)
5. Quick Healing: Depending on temperature, these unique eggs hatch swiftly, transforming into tadpoles within twenty-four to seventy-two hours after being laid. (Image: Canva)
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6. Black Tadpoles: Newly hatched tadpoles appear small, black and shiny, swimming together in dense clusters while remaining toxic to most predators. (Image: Canva)
6. Black Tadpoles: Newly hatched tadpoles appear small, black and shiny, swimming together in dense clusters while remaining toxic to most predators. (Image: Canva)
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7. Feeding Stage: Cane toad tadpoles feed mainly on algae and organic matter, helping them grow rapidly while adapting to challenging aquatic conditions. (Image: Canva)
7. Feeding Stage: Cane toad tadpoles feed mainly on algae and organic matter, helping them grow rapidly while adapting to challenging aquatic conditions. (Image: Canva)
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8. Toxic from Birth: Even in early life stages, these amphibians carry toxins, offering constant protection throughout development from egg to adult. (Image: Canva)
8. Toxic from Birth: Even in early life stages, these amphibians carry toxins, offering constant protection throughout development from egg to adult. (Image: Canva)
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9. Ecological Impact: Their rapid reproduction and toxicity create ecological challenges, overwhelming native predators and disruptively altering natural food chains. (Image: Canva)
9. Ecological Impact: Their rapid reproduction and toxicity create ecological challenges, overwhelming native predators and disruptively altering natural food chains. (Image: Canva)
10/10
10. Egg Laying Strategy: Female cane toads lay thousands of eggs in gelatinous strings, stretching incredible lengths to maximise survival in unpredictable environments. (Image: Canva)
10. Egg Laying Strategy: Female cane toads lay thousands of eggs in gelatinous strings, stretching incredible lengths to maximise survival in unpredictable environments. (Image: Canva)

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