What do a poison dart frog from South America and a perching bird from New Guinea have in common? Well, both exude neurotoxins that are, gram for gram, some of the most powerful poisons in nature. That Phyllobates poison dart frogs are highly poisonous is well known – it’s in their name, after all, and a single frog can […]
Tag: poison dart frog
“Its toxins affect the nerves and heart and it has enough poison to kill 10 grown men”
One of Earth’s most toxic animals, poison dart frogs are famed for their colourful, vibrant appearance. Despite their small size, measuring just one inch in length, these tiny amphibians possess enough potent toxins to deter or even kill predators many times their size. Their bright hues serve as a warning signal to potential threats, showcasing […]
“I can barely believe that such an eerie sound could be created by an animal.” Tourists armed with tech are heading into the Amazon – to save monkeys
Screeches, yowls and the hum of cicadas echo alongside yelps, squawks, splashes and drips. It’s first light in the Peruvian Amazon and my ears are enlivened with the joyous din of nocturnal symphonies jostling with the waking dawn chorus. Then, I hear it: a long growl, like an approaching storm. I peer into the towering […]
“It’s up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide.” 10 most poisonous animals in the world, from frogs to sharks – and even butterflies. Yes that’s right…
It’s a tough world out there and many animals have had to arm themselves. One capacity that has evolved time and time again is toxic weaponry – venoms and poisons. Although oft confused, there is a clear distinction between these two forms of toxins. Whereas venoms are produced in specialised tissues and are delivered to predators or prey through […]
Think toads are ugly? Think again – as these stunning beauties will change your mind
Who said toads were ugly? If ever one of these much-maligned amphibians was destined to become a prince, then surely one of the stubfoots (or harlequins) from the genus Atelopus of South and Central America could be it, says Stuart Blackman. These startling creatures are every bit as eye-catching as the region’s more celebrated poison […]
Snakes That Eat Poison Frogs Prove How Wild Evolution Can Be
Some animals have figured out how to eat deadly prey and not just survive but even turn those poisons into survival tools. According to the BBC, certain royal ground snakes (Erythrolamprus reginae) in the Colombian Amazon have evolved astonishing tactics to deal with toxic poison dart frogs. In experiments, a group of these snakes were […]
Video: The golden poison dart frog: ‘Like holding a loaded gun’
Lucy Cooke, the ‘amphibian avenger’, really loves frogs. She travels to a remote region of Colombia’s wild west to look for one of the world’s most toxic animals: Phyllobates terribilis, the golden poison frog. Protecting it from extinction isn’t an easy job – it lives among gold mines, drug runners, guerrillas and local people sceptical […]