Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56

Survival of a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) after the predation of a Cane Toad (Rhinella marina)

Citation

Ringma, J. 2013. Survival of a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) after the predation of a Cane Toad (Rhinella marina). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56(2): 589-591. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.56.2.2013-12

Published online

30 June 2013

Peer reviewed

Yes

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.56.2.2013-12

Keywords

survival, predation, Rhinella marina, Dacelo novaeguineae

Abstract 

Australian wildlife is highly susceptible to poisoning from bufotoxins in the tissues of the introduced Cane Toad Rhinella marina (Linnaeus 1758. Formerly Bufo marinus). While the outcomes of predation attempts are well documented in Australian mammals and reptiles, the susceptibility of birds is less well known. In a series of incidental observations, an adult Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae (Hermann 1783) was seen to survive the predation and ingestion of cane toads on two occasions with no ill effects.