Cane Toads, Taxonomies, Boundaries, and the Comparative Study of Religion

Abstract

Cane toads are heavily built amphibians that grow up to 15 centimeters (six inches) long. They have warty skin, though females tend to be larger and smoother skinned. They were introduced to Australia 66 years ago [1935] at Gordonvale, North Queensland, by the Australian Bureau of Sugar Experimental Stations, despite warnings from some scientists and naturalists. At the time, two species of beetles were causing dam age to the sugar harvest and it was thought that the toad would control these pests. Unfortunately, the toads had little effect on controlling beetles, which were eventually controlled by pesticides. Compared to their native Venezuela, the toad found Australia to be paradise. (Australia Declares Biological War on The Cane Toad, Environment News) What has the toad to do with the comparative study of religion? It has much to do with it if one thinks in terms of taxonomies and, more broadly, boundaries. In the instance of taxonomies, the toad was introduced to Australia in order to control a pest, beetles, based on the belief that the common name of the toad linked it with the common name of the beetle, which was un derstood to be proof that the first consumed the latter. Unfortu nately, the beetle and toad do not even share the same habitat, so that the toad failed as a biological mechanism for dealing with the destructive beetle. More than this, the toad has created an environmental crisis in Australia. It has no natu ral predators in Australia, and those who have tried to eat it suffer from its venom. Consequently Northern Australia has been swamped by a toad population explosion. The toad not only competes with other natural species and in this it has reduced their populations, but it consumes anything, except, it would seem, beetles. The problem arose, of course, when a questionable taxon was used to determine the nature of a thing. In this instance the adjective cane was used to denote a relationship between these two