Asian black-spine toad could cause devastation similar to that of the cane toad in cooler areas of Australia

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The discovery of an invasive toad species in a Melbourne backyard has prompted warnings of devastation similar to that wrought by the cane toad.

An Asian black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) was discovered in a Sunbury backyard in late April, the first time the toad has been found outside a port or airport in Australia.

The black-spined toad is capable of establishing populations in cooler areas that have escaped the spread of cane toads, according to the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI).



Andrew Cox, from the Invasive Species Council, said the find represents a failure of Australia's biosecurity system.



"If established, the Asian black-spined toad would multiply the destructive forces of the cane toad and open up a more southern invasion front," he said in a statement.



So far only one toad has been found. Mark Watt, biosecurity operations manager at DEPI, said it had carried out "extensive surveillance" and had been unable to find any more animals, though this might be due to the cool weather.

"They're a relatively tropical species, though they do have more of a tolerance for cooler weather than the cane toad, and because of the cool weather now which they really don't handle well we've discontinued our surveillance," he said.

"We'll conduct follow-up surveillance when the weather warms up."



Prof Rick Shine from the University of Sydney researches the impact and control of invasive species including the cane toad, and said the black-spined toad would be likely be a problem if it became established in Australia.

"They're probably a significant issue, but we don't really know," he said.

"They're a lot smaller than cane toads and so have less toxin, but probably have enough to be fatal to small predators."



The same toad species has also recently invaded Madagascar, with researchers saying urgent action was required to avoid "ecological disaster" on the island.



• To report sightings of the Asian black-spined toad in Victoria, contact DEPI on 136 186 or email reports and digital photographs to highrisk.invasiveanimals@depi.vic.gov.au.