The golden poison dart frog lives in tropical rainforests and can take down 10 adult men with the toxin secreted from its skin.
Poison dart frogs are a group of frog species in the family Dendrobatidae, primarily found in Central and South America. Unlike most frog species, these frogs are diurnal and often display bright colors. They are named for their potent toxins, which indigenous peoples have used to coat the tips of their blow darts for hunting. The most lethal species in this family is the golden poison dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis) from Colombia, which measures only 5 cm in length. Their skin secretes batrachotoxin, a toxin that paralyzes the nervous system, leading to muscle paralysis and potentially death. Just one golden poison dart frog’s toxin can kill nearly 20 healthy adult men or even 2 African bull elephants. Although all species within the Dendrobatidae family are at least somewhat toxic in the wild, the toxicity levels can vary significantly from one species to another and among different groups. Many species are currently critically endangered. These amphibians are commonly referred to as “poison dart frogs” because indigenous peoples have historically used the toxic secretions from their skin to poison the tips of their blow darts. |
