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EspañolGOLDEN POISON FROG
(Redirected from Golden Poison Dart Frog)
One of the largest of all poison dart frogs, '''Phyllobates terribilis''' is the most adult poisonous of all frogs and the main source of poison hunting darts used by the Choco Emberá people in Colombia's Rainforest.
Its alkaloid poison, one of a number of poisons common to frogs (batrachotoxins), prevents nerves from transmitting impulses, leaving the muscles in an inactive state of contraction. This can lead to heart failure or fibrillation. Alkaloid batrachotoxins can be stored by frogs for years after being deprived of a food-based source, and such toxins do not readily deteriorate, even when transfered to another surface. Chickens and dogs have died from contact with a paper towel on which a frog had walked. [1]. poison.[2]
The average dose carried will vary between locations, and consequent local diet, but the average wild ''P. terribilis'' is generally estimated to contain about one milligram of poison, enough to kill about 10,000 mice. This estimate will vary in turn, but most agree that this dose is enough to kill between 8 and 20 humans.[3]
This extraordinarily lethal poison (a steroid alkaloid, called batrachotoxin) is very rare. It is only found in three poisonous frogs of Colombia and two poisonous birds of Papua New Guinea.
The golden poison frog, like most others, stores its poison in skin glands. Due to their poison, frogs taste vile to predators; ''P. terribilis' poison kills whatever eats it, except for a snake, ''Liophis epinephelus''. This snake is resistant to the frog's poison, but not immune.
The poisonous frogs are perhaps the only creatures possessing enough resistance to accumulate this this poison in even miniscule quantities. The poison attacks the sodium channels of the cells. Through the ages, the frog has evolved special sodium channels that the poison can not harm.
Since easily purchasable foods such as fruit flies and extra-small crickets are not rich in the alkaloids required to produce batrachotoxins, captive frogs do not produce toxins and they eventually lose their toxicity in captivity. In fact, many hobbyists and herpetologists have reported that most dart frogs will not consume ants at all in captivity, though ants comprise the larger portion of their diet in the wild. Though all poison frogs lose their toxicity when deprived of certain foods, and captive bred golden poison frogs are born harmless, a wild-caught poison frog can retain alkaloids for years. It is not clear which insect supplies the potent alkaloid that gives golden poison frogs their exceptionally high levels of toxicity, or whether the frogs modify another available toxin to produce a more efficient variant, as do some of the frog's cousins from the Dendrobates family.
Thus, the high toxicity of P. terribilis appears due to consumption of a small insect or other arthropod, which may truly be the most poisonous creature on Earth.[1]
Scientists have determined the mysterious insect probably is a small beetle from the family Melyridae. The beetle produces the same toxin found in ''P. terribilis''. The beetle family Melyridae is cosmopolitan. Its relatives in Colombian rain forests could be the source of the batrachotoxins found in the highly toxic Phyllobates frogs of that region.[2]
Phyllobates terribilis occurs in different color morphs around the area. Orange, mint green, and yellow frogs are frequently seen.
This morph exists in the La Brea area of Colombia and is the most common form seen in capitivy. The name "mint green" is actually rather misleading as the frogs of this morph can be metallic green, pale green, or white.
The yellow morph of Phyllobates terribilis is the reason it has the common name, Golden poison dart frog. Yellow terribilis are found in Quebrada Guangui, Colombia, and Guyana. These frogs can be pale yellow to a deep, golden yellow color. A frog sold under the name "Gold terribilis" was once believed to be a deeper yellow terribilis. However, genetic tests have proven these frogs to be a uniform colored morph of ''phyllobates bicolor''.
While not as common as the other two morphs, orange terribilis exist in Colombia as well. They tend to be a metallic orange color or yellow-orange with varying intensity.
Like the other poison dart frogs, ''Phyllobates terribilis'' is harmless when raised away from its natural food source. They are a popular rainforest vivarium subject and are somewhat easier to feed than some dart frogs. Larger species of fruit flies, small crickets, waxworms, small mealworms, termites, and phoenix worms can be used if supplemented with calcium and other minerals. The temperature should be in the low to mid 20s (°C). They are sensitive to high heat and suffer from a condition called wasting syndrome if overheated for too long. They require high humidity as they come from one of the world's most humid rainforests. ''P. terribilis'' is not as territorial as most dart frogs and can successfully be kept in groups. However, they require a slightly larger enclosure due to their adult size, similar to the enclosure size used for ''Dendrobates tinctorius''. Occasional disputes may occur, but injuries are rare, and death is never the result of such conflicts.
★ A dangerously toxic new frog (Phyllobates) used by Emberá Indians of western Colombia, with discussion of blowgun fabrication and dart poisoning - Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 161, article 2
★ The True Poison-Dart Frog: The Golden Poison Frog Phyllobates terribilis
★ Beetle May Be Source of Frog's Poison
★ Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered
One of the largest of all poison dart frogs, '''Phyllobates terribilis''' is the most adult poisonous of all frogs and the main source of poison hunting darts used by the Choco Emberá people in Colombia's Rainforest.
| Contents |
| Poison |
| Morphs |
| Mint Green |
| Yellow |
| Orange |
| Captive care |
| External links |
| References |
Poison
Its alkaloid poison, one of a number of poisons common to frogs (batrachotoxins), prevents nerves from transmitting impulses, leaving the muscles in an inactive state of contraction. This can lead to heart failure or fibrillation. Alkaloid batrachotoxins can be stored by frogs for years after being deprived of a food-based source, and such toxins do not readily deteriorate, even when transfered to another surface. Chickens and dogs have died from contact with a paper towel on which a frog had walked. [1]. poison.[2]
The average dose carried will vary between locations, and consequent local diet, but the average wild ''P. terribilis'' is generally estimated to contain about one milligram of poison, enough to kill about 10,000 mice. This estimate will vary in turn, but most agree that this dose is enough to kill between 8 and 20 humans.[3]
This extraordinarily lethal poison (a steroid alkaloid, called batrachotoxin) is very rare. It is only found in three poisonous frogs of Colombia and two poisonous birds of Papua New Guinea.
The golden poison frog, like most others, stores its poison in skin glands. Due to their poison, frogs taste vile to predators; ''P. terribilis' poison kills whatever eats it, except for a snake, ''Liophis epinephelus''. This snake is resistant to the frog's poison, but not immune.
The geographic distribution of P. terribilis (in red) is very restricted. (north area of the pacific coast in Colombia)
The poisonous frogs are perhaps the only creatures possessing enough resistance to accumulate this this poison in even miniscule quantities. The poison attacks the sodium channels of the cells. Through the ages, the frog has evolved special sodium channels that the poison can not harm.
Since easily purchasable foods such as fruit flies and extra-small crickets are not rich in the alkaloids required to produce batrachotoxins, captive frogs do not produce toxins and they eventually lose their toxicity in captivity. In fact, many hobbyists and herpetologists have reported that most dart frogs will not consume ants at all in captivity, though ants comprise the larger portion of their diet in the wild. Though all poison frogs lose their toxicity when deprived of certain foods, and captive bred golden poison frogs are born harmless, a wild-caught poison frog can retain alkaloids for years. It is not clear which insect supplies the potent alkaloid that gives golden poison frogs their exceptionally high levels of toxicity, or whether the frogs modify another available toxin to produce a more efficient variant, as do some of the frog's cousins from the Dendrobates family.
Thus, the high toxicity of P. terribilis appears due to consumption of a small insect or other arthropod, which may truly be the most poisonous creature on Earth.[1]
Scientists have determined the mysterious insect probably is a small beetle from the family Melyridae. The beetle produces the same toxin found in ''P. terribilis''. The beetle family Melyridae is cosmopolitan. Its relatives in Colombian rain forests could be the source of the batrachotoxins found in the highly toxic Phyllobates frogs of that region.[2]
Morphs
Phyllobates terribilis occurs in different color morphs around the area. Orange, mint green, and yellow frogs are frequently seen.
Mint Green
This morph exists in the La Brea area of Colombia and is the most common form seen in capitivy. The name "mint green" is actually rather misleading as the frogs of this morph can be metallic green, pale green, or white.
Yellow
The yellow morph of Phyllobates terribilis is the reason it has the common name, Golden poison dart frog. Yellow terribilis are found in Quebrada Guangui, Colombia, and Guyana. These frogs can be pale yellow to a deep, golden yellow color. A frog sold under the name "Gold terribilis" was once believed to be a deeper yellow terribilis. However, genetic tests have proven these frogs to be a uniform colored morph of ''phyllobates bicolor''.
Orange
While not as common as the other two morphs, orange terribilis exist in Colombia as well. They tend to be a metallic orange color or yellow-orange with varying intensity.
Captive care
Like the other poison dart frogs, ''Phyllobates terribilis'' is harmless when raised away from its natural food source. They are a popular rainforest vivarium subject and are somewhat easier to feed than some dart frogs. Larger species of fruit flies, small crickets, waxworms, small mealworms, termites, and phoenix worms can be used if supplemented with calcium and other minerals. The temperature should be in the low to mid 20s (°C). They are sensitive to high heat and suffer from a condition called wasting syndrome if overheated for too long. They require high humidity as they come from one of the world's most humid rainforests. ''P. terribilis'' is not as territorial as most dart frogs and can successfully be kept in groups. However, they require a slightly larger enclosure due to their adult size, similar to the enclosure size used for ''Dendrobates tinctorius''. Occasional disputes may occur, but injuries are rare, and death is never the result of such conflicts.
External links
★ A dangerously toxic new frog (Phyllobates) used by Emberá Indians of western Colombia, with discussion of blowgun fabrication and dart poisoning - Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 161, article 2
★ The True Poison-Dart Frog: The Golden Poison Frog Phyllobates terribilis
★ Beetle May Be Source of Frog's Poison
References
★ Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered
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