Toad in the road: Biocultural history and conservation challenges of the Sonoran Desert Toad

The Sonoran Desert Toad is the only vertebrate known to produce the powerful psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT, which is easily accessible from its exterior glands. First reported in 1965 and 1967, the compound's discovery led to popular psychedelic use after a 1984 pamphlet. Unmitigated use in for-profit spirituality, wellness, and adventurism has driven erroneous and exploitive narratives of ancient Indigenous use, increasing exploitation of the toad, biocultural erosion, and malpractice. Reconciliation of diverse needs is intellectually and financially challenging, requiring careful approaches that avoid extraction and appropriation of Indigenous and wellness motifs, and can be reached through intersection of Indigenous and Western science. Few conservation studies and outreach efforts exist, mostly supported by crowdfunding.

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Abstract

Abstract The Sonoran Desert Toad ( Incilius alvarius ) is the only vertebrate known to produce the powerful psychedelic, 5-MeO-DMT, which is easily-accessible form the animal's exterior glands. This paper seeks to present the biocultural (ecological and cultural) history, and conservation concerns of I. alvarius . Discovery of 5-MeO-DMT in I. alvarius was first reported in 1965 and 1967 (Erspamer et al.), and eventually led to the popular psychedelic use of this species after a pamphlet was published in 1984 (Most). Its mostly unmitigated use in for-profit spirituality, wellness, and adventurism has driven erroneous, coerced, and exploitive narratives of ancient Indigenous use – increasing: exploitation of I. alvarius , biocultural erosion, and malpractice of 5-MeO-DMT. Reconciliation of diverse needs is intellectually and financially challenging. It must be careful of approaches that are implicitly biased by a demand that extracts, appropriates, and trades in Indigenous and wellness motifs – but can be reached from the reconciliation and intersection of Indigenous and Western science and priorities. Few conservation-oriented studies and outreach elements concerning I. alvarius exist, and most have been supported by crowdfunding.