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Old 24-03-2010, 01:17 AM posted to aus.gardens
John Savage John Savage is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Aug 2006
Posts: 276
Default Bufo marinus, gourmet meal for possums

On the ABC's Science Show last Saturday. Robin Williams told how an
American herpetologist (I think that's the term for a guy who knows
what he's talking about) has observed how an American opossum (a
nasty-mannered carnivorous marsupial that resembles a giant rat badly
in need of a good PR manager) can make a meal of Bufo marinus, aka
the Qld cane toad. Instead of falling over dead, the possum sat back,
satisfyingly licked its paws and looked around for another toad. This
took place in Panama, the region of origin of our Qld cane toad.

He theorised that the American possum may have evolved to be immune
to all organic poisons. This remains to be tested. (Not many possums
are stepping forward for the lab tests.)

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow...10/2850936.htm

Note: the American possum is quite different from the Australian one.
http://www.opossum.org
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)