Giant invasive toads in Japan are rapidly getting bigger and scientists don’t know why

NewsScienceGiant invasive toads in Japan are rapidly getting bigger and scientists don’t know whyResearchers say findings challenge idea that evolutionary change happens at a glacially slow paceVishwam Sankaran Wednesday 22 April 2026 13:14 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2962520","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/cane-toads-australia-japan-growing-bigger-evolution-b2962520.html","title":"Japan’s invasive toads are rapidly getting bigger and scientists don’t know why"}}CloseInvasive species and the $423bn global problemSign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in healthGet our free Health Check emailGet our free Health Check emailEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_Health_Newsletter","regTitle":"Health Check","subscriptionGroup":"health","subscriptionGroupId":"a476a40b-80d6-475e-83ee-36e2c8c6dcb9","type":"health","pathPrefix":["/news/health","/news/science"],"associatedAuthors":["Rebecca Thomas"],"title":"Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health","mobileTitle":"Get our free Health Check email","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/healthCheck1_1.png","description":"Behind the headline review on the week in health","label":"I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email","newsletterKey":"receiveIndyHealthNews","regSourceSection":"Science","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"},"isClimate":false}Invasive cane toads in Japan are growing bigger and changing more rapidly than suggeste...