Cane toad invaders suffer arthritis on the frontline - earth - 15 October 2007 - New Scientist Environment

http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12789&feedId=online-news_rss20 --- Being a successful invader is a double-edged sword if you are a cane toad, say researchers. They have found that the front-line infantry of the invading waves of amphibian pests are showing signs of stress associated with their success: roughly one in ten suffer severe arthritis. Cane toads originate from South and Central America and were introduced to Australia in 1935. They owe their name to having been exported to over 40 countries to control crop pests, particularly - as was the case in Australia - pests to sugar cane. But their rapid dispersal across Australia meant they soon became pests in their own right.