Why are they called "poison dart frogs"?
Phyllobates terribilis and Phyllobates bicolor - two very poisonous frogs
Phyllobates terribilis and Phyllobates bicolor - two very poisonous frogs
"Poison dart frogs" are sometimes called "poison arrow frogs" or "dart poison frogs" or "poison frogs". All of these names refer to the fact that these frogs secrete poisons.The poison from poison dart frogs is used by Central and South American Indians on the darts they use for killing animals. That is how the frogs got their name. (Because the Indians poison darts, not arrows, the name "poison dart frog" is most common.)
The Choco Indians from Columbia poison the tips of their darts with poison dart frog poison. They wipe the darts on the back of a poison dart frog after heating the frog over a campfire. They hang the frogs by their legs over the fires and when they got hot, the poison moistens the back of the frogs. They use these darts to kill howler monkeys and other small animals.
The poison from the poison dart frogs contain toxins that dull the nerves and can produce heart and respiratory failure. The poison that some species secrete is the most powerful animal poison known.
As little as 2 micrograms of the poison can kill an adult human. Each frog contains nearly 200 micrograms. The poison from one frog could kill 100 adult humans!
Not all poison dart frogs have strong poisons. Some of them only secrete skin poisons that taste terrible or make you sick or throw up if you eat the frog.
The poison from only three kinds of poison dart frog is a threat to humans: Phyllobates terribilis, Phyllobates aurotaenia and Phyllobates bicolor.
Phyllobates terribilis is the most poisonous. Just touching it might kill you. It contains 20 times more concentration of this toxin than any other species and is one of the most toxic animals in the world.
The poison in the skin of one Phyllobates terribilis frog is enough to kill more than 20,000 laboratory mice!
Over time, poison dart frogs have become more poisonous. This is because other animals, like snakes and spiders, became more resistant to the milder poisons. There is only one natural predator of poison dart frogs -- the snake Leimadophis epinephelus which is immune to the poison.
The poison from the poison dart frog may help in medical research. Scientists are trying to find ways to make muscle relaxants, heart stimulants, heart regulators and anesthetics from the poisons. For example, the poison from Epipedobates tricolor may be a more effective anesthetic than morphine!
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