Data from: Neural and sensory basis of homing behavior in the invasive cane toad, Rhinella marina

The behavioral, sensory, and neural bases of vertebrate navigation are
primarily described in mammals and birds. However, we know much less about
the navigational abilities and mechanisms of vertebrates that move on
smaller scales, such as amphibians. To address this knowledge gap, we
conducted an extensive field study on navigation in the cane
toad, Rhinella marina. First, we performed a translocation
experiment to describe how invasive toads in Hawaiʻi navigate home
following displacements of up to one kilometer. Next, we tested the effect
of olfactory and magnetosensory manipulations on homing, as these senses
are most commonly associated with amphibian navigation. We found that
neither ablation alone prevents homing, suggesting that toad navigation is
multimodal. Finally, we tested the hypothesis that the medial pallium, the
amphibian homolog to the hippocampus, is involved in homing. By comparing
neural activity across homing and non-homing toads, we found evidence
supporting the involvement of the medial pallium, lateral pallium, and
septum in navigation, suggesting the conservation of neural structures
supporting navigation across vertebrates. Our study lays the foundation to
understand the behavioral, sensory, and neural bases of navigation in
amphibians and to further characterize the evolution of behavior and
neural structures in vertebrates.