Very often in nature, external charm is combined with danger. Animals with their bright colors do not always strive to attract the attention of the opposite sex. In most cases, this is a warning to enemies. This effect is common mainly in amphibians, for example, in poisonous frogs, whose bright colors literally amaze the eye with their beauty.
Quite often, the bright colors of amphibians indicate their toxicity and danger. Features of deadly amphibians
Frogs are familiar to many as a small, harmless creature that croaks loudly in rivers, swamps and lakes. However, not all of these amphibians are so cute and harmless - there are also real monsters among them, encountering which is literally life-threatening.
Poisonous frogs- a type of tropical amphibian characterized by particularly toxic secretions skin, capable of killing anyone Living being, including humans and large animals. This feature of the amphibian is due to its diet, consisting of poisonous spiders, ticks, tropical ants, etc.
Poisonous frogs are characterized by particularly toxic secretions from the skin
Toxic substances from insects that enter the frog's body are converted into its own poison, which is then released through the skin glands of the amphibian. Moreover, these toxic substances They do not harm the amphibian itself at all, but, on the contrary, make it practically invulnerable to enemies, of which there are plenty in the tropics.
Nature has endowed the most poisonous frogs with very beautiful bright colors. However, such characteristic feature serves mainly not the amphibian itself, but those around him, telling them that approaching this beauty is dangerous. Unfortunately, many travelers sometimes do not perceive such signals, which ultimately ends extremely sadly for them.
The most dangerous individuals live in the forests of Central and South America. Poisonous frogs are most often found in the following areas:
- Venezuela;
- Colombia;
- Guianas;
- Ecuador.
Tree frog family
Dart frogs are a family of amphibians, the majority of species of which are recognized as the most poisonous frogs on the planet. Amphibians are distinguished by their small size (only from 12 to 25 mm) and weight of about 2 g. Frogs of this genus are characterized by luxurious colors of their body. Blue, lemon, yellow-black, bright red, orange are just some of the shades that dart frogs can be painted in.
Darter frogs are recognized as the most poisonous frogs in the world The sounds made by these amphibians are not at all similar to the usual croaking; rather, they resemble the singing of a cricket or an exotic bird. Dart frogs spend a significant part of their lives on the leaves and branches of trees, hunting for small insects. Small suction cups located on the toes of their paws help them climb trunks. Thanks to this feature, the frog, like a rock climber, can overcome any vertical surface. Unlike most amphibians, dart frogs swim very poorly, and in general they do not like water so much that they even lay their eggs on leaves and branches.
These frogs move not by jumping, but by regular steps. In case of danger, they do not run away, but fall into a kind of coma, but more often they show retaliatory aggression, boldly jumping on the enemy.
The most poisonous representatives of dart frogs include:
Dangerous frog-monkey
Phyllomedusa bicolor is a very large frog belonging to the tree frog family. Distributed in tropical forests South America. Top part The body of the amphibian is colored light green, while the abdomen can be cream, light yellow or white. The interesting way Phyllomedusa bicolor moves along tree branches makes it very similar to a monkey or a chameleon, which is how this amphibian earned its second nickname - monkey frog, or monkey frog.
The way Phyllomedusa bicolor moves along tree branches makes it very similar to a monkey. Locals They idolize this amphibian, believing that the poisonous substance secreted by its skin can cure any disease. Thus, the aborigines believe that the venom of the phyllomedusa, which got into human body, is able to drive away bad energy, thereby restoring luck, stamina and lost male sexual qualities. Toxic mucus is often used to heal snake bites, as well as to treat yellow fever, malaria, etc.
They extract poison frogs very in an interesting way: they stretch her by the paws (in an X shape), and then spit on her back 3-4 times, thereby irritating the phyllomedusa, which immediately begins to secrete the necessary secretion. Next, the poison is collected with a wooden spatula, and the amphibian is released into the wild.
Aborigines believe that the venom of the phyllomedusa, which enters the human body, is capable of driving away bad energy The method of using toxic mucus is also quite unusual: several small burns are applied to the aboriginal’s right forearm with coal from a fire, after which these wounds are generously lubricated with the resulting substance. Toxic effect manifests itself almost immediately: the heartbeat increases, the pressure rises, then dizziness, nausea and vomiting begin. Some people lose consciousness. After about 30-40 minutes, the effect of the poison ends, and the subjects return to normal, after which they joyfully and cheerfully go about their business.
Breeding at home
No matter how strange it may sound, modern exotic lovers are increasingly choosing poisonous amphibians as pets. Which is not at all surprising, because huge terrariums with colorful frogs sitting among lush vegetation are not only pleasing to the eye, but also resemble a piece of the jungle.
Modern exotic lovers are increasingly choosing poisonous amphibians as pets. And, most importantly, keeping such an amphibian at home is absolutely safe, since in an artificial environment it completely loses its poisonous qualities. This is primarily affected by changes in the diet and living conditions of the amphibian.
The most popular terrarium frogs today are dart frogs. The main advantages of these amphibians:
- easy care;
- the diversity and beauty of the frog;
- small sizes;
- Suitable for poison dart frogs room temperature;
- even same-sex individuals get along well in the same terrarium;
- have interesting behavior.
Terrarium for an amphibian
Dart frogs are kept in horizontal terrariums with moderate humidity and good ventilation. The dimensions of such a “house” must first of all be selected based on the size of the terrarium vegetation, which these frogs absolutely need. For example, 2-3 pairs of individuals will feel great on an area measuring 60 by 60 cm with a wall height of about 50-70 cm.
Medium or coarse gravel can be used as soil. It is very important that the stones are constantly slightly moistened, so they must be sprayed with settled water once a day.
Medium or coarse gravel can be used as soil for frogs. A room temperature of + 22 to + 27 °C is ideal for poison dart frogs, but at night it can be lowered to +18 °C. Such conditions are quite sufficient for the normal life of both amphibians and terrarium plants. Since dart frogs are a diurnal type of amphibian, special attention should be paid to lighting: frogs should be provided good light within 12 hours.
In addition, amphibians vitally need ultraviolet light, so it is very important that the terrarium is equipped with such a device. In no case should you use special heating lamps designed for reptiles (especially desert lizards and turtles), since in strong light the delicate skin of amphibians simply burns.
Amphibians vitally need ultraviolet light, so it is very important that the terrarium is equipped Low varieties with large leaves, such as tradescantia and various representatives bromeliad. A thick piece of driftwood or a small part of a tree trunk is also required. A constant supply of fresh water is extremely important, which is recommended to be kept in a coconut shell.
Nutrition and reproduction
Experienced breeders traditionally feed poison dart frogs with fruit flies - the favorite delicacy of these frogs. However, a novice owner of amphibians may have some difficulties with such “food” (flies have the not very pleasant feature of scattering throughout the apartment), so at the initial stage the frogs can be fed with caterpillar larvae or springtails.
The transformation of a tadpole into a frog is a long process that will take 2-3 months. Dart frogs reach sexual maturity at about one year of age. After fertilization, females do not lay eggs at all. a large number of eggs (3-5 pieces in total) in various shelters. After approximately 20-25 days, small tadpoles appear and are immediately transferred to a small plastic container with clean water. Feed the young with the usual fry formula aquarium fish. The transformation of a tadpole into a frog is a rather long process, which will take 2-3 months.
Thus, even very dangerous and deadly frogs can turn into cute apartment pets, delighting their owner every day with their funny behavior and beauty.
There is a proverb: “All that glitters is not gold.” This expression fits very well the description of an amphibian called « golden frog» . Its other name, which is more official, is the terrible leaf climber (Phyllobates terribilis). From the name alone one can conclude that this animal has somehow displeased humanity.
Some rub their hands with pleasure, wanting to grow such a miracle in at home. Do not rush to rejoice - a golden frog raised in captivity most often loses its poisonousness. In order for the poison to be fully developed, it must eat poisonous insects and worms, and these are found mainly in the habitats of this individual.
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The terrible leaf climber is now endangered. In general, its homeland is Colombia, where it lives along the entire Pacific coast. Warm climate, frequent rains, high humidity- all the delights of the tropical forest that such frogs simply adore. They live in groups of up to six in nature, but larger numbers can be bred in an aquarium.
The size of amphibians is very small, the color is bright and... However, not everything is so harmless. These animals are not just poisonous, but very poisonous. Even just touching it can cost you your life if you see such an individual in a real tropical forest. Unfortunately, such facts have already been recorded more than once.
What kind of poison is this, you ask? The skin of the golden frog is covered with thick, thick batrachotoxin. It is a poisonous alkaloid and is contained in the skin of many poison dart frogs. But only the golden representative has so much poison that nervous system any mammal, including humans, is instantly paralyzed under its influence. Impulses cease to be transmitted in the body, the work of all muscles, including the heart, stops.
But the worst thing is that even after the death of the animal, this poison is still capable of doing evil! And to convey to you, so to speak, “greetings from the other world.” One animal contains approximately 1 mg of batrachotoxin. This amount will kill approximately 10 thousand mice! Also, such a dose will be lethal for 10-20 people, two African elephants and three bulls.
Of course, nature did not come up with this mechanism for the terrible leaf climber so that everyone would hate it. This is a kind of self-defense mechanism. Companion in toxicity in Phyllobates terribilis - box jellyfish, a slightly less toxic species that lives in seawater.
As you understand, our heroine has practically no enemies. Except for the snake Liophis Epinephelu, which is not very susceptible to this poison, although there is still no complete insurance. The tribesmen themselves are also not afraid of touching each other.
If you want to have such an individual, then know: the simple ones that you feed the frog will be removed from the body over time toxic substances forever. And then stroke yours pet as much as it will fit.
This is not the first time that environmentalists have sounded the alarm: animals on the planet are dying out at an increasingly catastrophic rate. However, the most great danger threatens not elephants and polar bears, but amphibians: 40 percent of toad and frog species will soon disappear from the face of the Earth. Changes are to blame for this global climate and an epidemic of a deadly fungus.
British photographer Robin Moore has dedicated his life to photographing rare and beautiful frogs. He travels through jungles and swamps, alone or with scientists, in search of new and endangered species.
Kuhumatan golden toad
Photo: Robin Moore
Incilius aurarius was discovered in the Cuhumatanes Mountains in 2012. These toads live in a small area of high mountain tropical forests on the Guatemala-Mexico border.
Robin Moore grew up in Scotland. Every holiday he scoured the mountains and hills for eggs and tadpoles, turning his apartment into a miniature Jurassic Park.
Lemur phyllomedusa
Hylomantis lemur is found in the rivers and swamps of Costa Rica. Thanks to her huge eyes with an iris that looks like a black line, you won’t confuse her with anyone. Fragile legs with almost no muscles give it a special gracefulness.
Moore and his assistant have been trekking through the jungle for many years, using a Canon macro lens with a focal length of 100 millimeters and an f/2.8 aperture, two external flashes and Octodome softbox.
Planning tree frog
Agalychnis spurrelli is found in the tropical forests and swamps of Central America. She is able to soar in the air: when jumping, she places her front and hind legs, and the wide membranes act on them like a parachute.
La Haute glandular toad
Due to deforestation for firewood, less than two percent of Haiti's original area remains. Only the tropical rainforests in the southwestern mountains have not yet been reached by the woodcutter's axe. There, on the slopes of the La Haute ridge, participants in an ecological expedition in 2011 found the frog Eleutherodactylus glandulifer.
Before last time it was seen in 1991 and the amphibian was considered extinct. However, the La Haute frog remains among the 100 most endangered species.
New Granada spotted tree frog
Smilisca phaeota is capable of changing its color from yellow to green depending on the time of day. In the photo she peeks out from behind a leaf in Choco, Colombia.
To convince people to take care of endangered amphibians, Moore wrote an entire book, “Raiders of the Lost Frogs.” He accompanied 400 photographs with 70 thousand words - so that readers understand what exactly they are missing.
Chest-spotted Makai frog
Eleutherodactylus thorectes, another frog from Haiti, is one of the smallest in the world. It is found only on the slopes of two mountains (Formon and Macaya).
“Over the past 40 years, we have lost 52 percent of the planet’s fauna. It's easy to generate sympathy for polar bears in people, but it's much more difficult with frogs. It's easier for us to sympathize with species similar to us - large mammals With big eyes, and leave distant neighbors on the evolutionary tree at the door,” says Moore.
Horned frog
This frog (Ceratobatrachus guentheri) lives only in the Solomon Islands. The head is triangular, flattened, elongated in front. These amphibians still live in the tadpole stage in the egg: a full-fledged frog hatches.
Golden mantella
Mantella aurantiaca live only in the east of Madagascar, in an area of ten square kilometers. They hide among mosses, plant roots and fallen leaves, hunting for small insects. A whole bunch of toxins protect frogs from predators and diseases.
Hyalinobatrachium valerioi
This individual, depicted on a tree leaf on the Osa Peninsula (southwest Costa Rica), belongs to glass frogs. The skin on the abdomen resembles glass: you can see clearly through it internal organs, and sometimes even eggs from females.
Panamanian golden frogs
Atelopus zeteki, despite its name, is a toad. She lived near streams on the slopes of the Cordillera. Most likely in natural conditions this species became extinct by 2007. Preserved only in captivity. In Panama, Atelopus zeteki is considered national symbol: Legend says that everyone who sees it is destined for happiness and good luck. Toads secrete a powerful poison with neuroparalytic action - zethekitoxin (several orders of magnitude more powerful than saxitoxin, which has a similar mode of action).
Orange-sided tree frog
Latin name- Agalychnis moreletii. Lives in the tropical forests of Central America. It is found at altitudes from 300 to 1500 meters. Is on the verge of extinction due to destruction natural environment habitat and chytridiomycosis.
Eleutherodactylus dolomedes
Another endangered species from Haiti (Mount Macaya). It was last seen in 1991 - until the frogs were discovered by members of the 2010 expedition.
“I try to place the light source to the side and as close to the frogs as possible so that the light flows around their body, minimally hitting the amphibians’ wet skin,” Moore says. The photographer constantly has to figure out how to find conditions for shooting under the cover of the forest.
Spike-headed tree frog
Anotheca spinosa lives in the jungles of Central America. It is threatened by the destruction of its natural habitat.
Moore creates the white background using a sheet of plastic that he always takes with him into the jungle. White plastic allows you to highlight the intricate colors and patterns on the frogs' skin.
Horned frog
Horned frog with head upturned. This photograph by Moore was a finalist in the annual BBC Wildlife Photographer competition (2012).
Haitian yellow tree frog
Photo: Robin Moore
Osteopilus pulchrilineatus live in the forests and swamps of both countries of the island (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Due to human encroachment, the range of this vulnerable species has become extremely fragmented.
Poisonous apparatus
Anurans are represented by 6 thousand. modern species, where the difference between frogs and toads is very blurred. The former are usually understood as smooth-skinned, and the latter as warty amphibians without a tail, which is not entirely true. Biologists insist that individual toads are more closely related to frogs than to other toads. All tailless amphibians that produce toxins are considered both primary and passively poisonous, since they are endowed with defense mechanism from birth, but lack attack tools (teeth/spikes).
In toads, the suprascapular glands with a poisonous secretion (each of which consists of 30–35 alveolar lobes) are located on the sides of the head, above the eyes. The alveoli end in ducts that extend to the surface of the skin, but are closed by plugs when the toad is calm.
Interesting. The parotid glands contain about 70 mg of bufotoxin, which (when the glands are compressed by the teeth) pushes the plugs out of the ducts, penetrates the attacker's mouth and then into the pharynx, causing severe intoxication.
There is a widely known case when a hungry hawk sitting in a cage was given poisonous toad. The bird grabbed it and began to peck, but very quickly left the trophy and hid in a corner. She sat there, ruffled, and died a few minutes later.
Poisonous frogs do not generate toxins themselves, but usually obtain them from arthropods, ants or beetles. In the body, toxins change or remain the same (depending on metabolism), but the frog loses its toxicity as soon as it stops eating such insects.
What poison do frogs have?
Tailless animals signal their toxicity with a deliberately striking coloration, which is also reproduced by completely non-toxic species in the hope of escaping from enemies. True, there are predators (for example, giant salamander and ringed snake), calmly absorbing poisonous amphibians without harm to their health.
The poison poses a serious threat to any living creature not adapted to it, including humans, which best case scenario ends in poisoning, and at worst - fatal. Most of tailless amphibians produce a poison of non-protein origin (bufotoxin), which becomes dangerous only in a certain dosage.
The chemical composition of the poison, as a rule, depends on the type of amphibian and includes different components:
- hallucinogens;
- nerve agents;
- skin irritants;
- vasoconstrictors;
- proteins that destroy red blood cells;
- cardiotoxins and others.
The composition is also determined by the habitat and living conditions of poisonous frogs: those of them who sit a lot on land are armed with toxins against land predators. The terrestrial lifestyle influenced poisonous secret toads - it is dominated by cardiotoxins that disrupt the activity of the heart.
Fact. The soapy secretions of toaded fireweeds contain bombesin, which leads to the breakdown of red blood cells. Whitish mucus irritates human mucous membranes, causing headache and chills. Rodents die after ingesting bombesin at a dose of 400 mg/kg.
Despite their toxicity, toads (and other poisonous anurans) often end up on the table of other frogs, snakes, and some birds and animals. The Australian raven lays the aga toad on its back, kills it with its beak and eats it, discarding its head with poisonous glands.
The venom of the Colorado toad consists of 5-MeO-DMT (a strong psychotropic substance) and the alkaloid bufotenine. Most toads are not harmed by their poison, but this cannot be said about frogs: a tiny leaf climber can die from its own poison if it enters the body through a scratch.
Several years ago, biologists from the California Academy of Sciences found a bug in New Guinea that “supplies” batrachotoxin to frogs. Upon contact with the beetle (the natives call it Choresine), tingling and temporary numbness of the skin occurs. Having examined about 400 beetles, the Americans discovered different, including previously unknown, types of BTXs (batrachotoxins) in them.
Human use of poison
Previously, the mucus of poisonous frogs was used for its intended purpose - to hunt game and destroy enemies. The skin of the American spotted poison dart frog contains so much poison (BTXs + homobatrachotoxin) that it is enough for dozens of arrows that can kill or paralyze large animals. The hunters rubbed the tips on the back of the amphibian and tucked the arrows into their blowguns. In addition, biologists have calculated that the poison of one such frog is enough to kill 22 thousand mice.
According to some sources, the role of a primitive drug was the poison of the aga toad: it was simply licked from the skin or smoked after drying it. Nowadays, biologists have come to the conclusion that the poison of Bufo alvarius (Colorado toad) is a more powerful hallucinogen - it is now used for relaxation.
Epibatidine is the name of the component found in batrachotoxin. This painkiller is 200 times stronger than morphine and is not addictive. True, the therapeutic dose of epibatidine is close to lethal.
Also, from the skin of tailless amphibians, biochemists have isolated a peptide that prevents the multiplication of the HIV virus (but this research has not yet been completed).
Antidote for frog poison
Nowadays, scientists have learned to synthesize batrachotoxin, which is not inferior in its characteristics to natural one, but have never been able to obtain an antidote to it. Due to the lack of an effective andidote, all manipulations with poison dart frogs, in particular the terrible leaf climber, must be extremely careful. The toxin affects the heart, nervous and circulatory system, penetrating through abrasions/cuts on the skin, so a poisonous frog caught in wildlife, cannot be taken with bare hands.
Regions with poisonous frogs
Dart frogs (several species of which produce batrachotoxins) are considered endemic to Central and South America. These poisonous frogs live in the tropical forests of countries such as:
- Bolivia and Brazil;
- Venezuela and Guyana;
- Costa Rica and Colombia;
- Nicaragua and Suriname;
- Panama and Peru;
- French Guiana;
- Ecuador.
In these same regions, the aga toad is also found, also introduced in Australia, southern Florida (USA), the Philippines, the Caribbean and Pacific islands. The Colorado toad is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The European continent, including Russia, is inhabited by less poisonous anurans - the common spadefoot, red-bellied toad, green and gray toads.
TOP 8 poisonous frogs on the planet
Almost all death frogs are members of the dart frog family, which consists of about 120 species. Because of their bright colors, people like to keep them in aquariums, especially since the toxicity of amphibians fades over time, as they stop eating toxic insects.
The most dangerous in the poison dart frog family, which unites 9 genera, are small (2–4 cm) frogs from the genus of leaf climbers living in the Colombian Andes.
Terrible leaf climber (lat. Phyllobates terribilis)
A light touch on this tiny, 1 g frog carries fatal poisoning, which is not surprising - one leaf climber produces up to 500 mcg of batrachotoxin. Kokoe (as the aborigines called it), despite its bright lemon color, is well camouflaged among tropical greenery.
When luring a frog, the Indians imitate its croaking and then catch it, focusing on the response cry. They smear the tips of their arrows with the poison of the leaf climber - the affected prey dies from respiratory arrest due to fast action BTXs, which paralyze the respiratory muscles. Before taking the terrible leaf climber in their hands, hunters wrap them in leaves.
Two-color leaf climber (lat. Phyllobates bicolor)
It inhabits the tropical forests of the northwestern part of South America, mainly western Colombia, and is the carrier of the second most toxic poison (after the terrible leaf climber). It also contains batrachotoxin, and at a dose of 150 mg, the toxic secretions of the bicolor leafhopper lead to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and then to death.
Interesting. These are the most big representatives poison dart frog family: females grow up to 5–5.5 cm, males – from 4.5 to 5 cm. Body color varies from yellow to orange, turning into blue/black shades on the limbs.
Zimmerman's dart frog (lat. Ranitomeya variabilis)
Perhaps the most beautiful frog of the genus Ranitomeya, but no less poisonous than its close relatives. It looks like a children's toy, the body of which is covered with bright green paint, and the legs are blue. The finishing touch is shiny black spots scattered across a green and blue background.
These tropical beauties are found in the Amazon basin (western Colombia), as well as in the eastern foothills of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru. It is believed that all poison dart frogs have a single enemy - the snake, which does not react in any way to their poison.
Little poison dart frog (lat. Oophaga pumilio)
A bright red frog up to 1.7–2.4 cm tall with black or blue-black legs. The belly can be red, brown, red-blue or whitish. Adult amphibians feed on spiders and small insects, including ants, which supply the skin glands of frogs with toxins.
A striking color serves several purposes:
- signals toxicity;
- gives status to males (the brighter, the higher the rank);
- allows females to choose alpha partners.
Little dart frogs live in the jungle from Nicaragua to Panama, along the entire Caribbean coast of Central America, no higher than 0.96 km above sea level.
Blue poison dart frog (lat. Dendrobates azureus)
This cute (up to 5 cm) frog is less toxic than the terrible leaf climber, but its poison, coupled with its eloquent coloring, reliably scares away all potential enemies. In addition, toxic mucus protects the amphibian from fungi and bacteria.
Fact. Okopipi (as the Indians call the frog) has a blue body with black spots and blue legs. Due to its narrow range, whose area is shrinking after deforestation of the surrounding forests, the blue dart frog is in danger of extinction.
The species now inhabits a limited region near Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana. In the south of Suriname, blue dart frogs are common in one of the largest districts, Sipaliwini, where they live in tropical forests and savannas.
Two-color phyllomedusa (lat. Phyllomedusa bicolor)
This one is big green frog from the banks of the Amazon is not related to poison dart frogs, but is delegated to the family Phyllomedusidae. Males (9–10.5 cm) are traditionally smaller than females, growing up to 11–12 cm. Individuals of both sexes are colored the same - light green back, cream or white belly, light brown toes.
The bicolor phyllomedusa is not as deadly as the leaf climber, but its toxic secretions also have a hallucinogenic effect and lead to disorders gastrointestinal tract. Healers from Indian tribes use dried mucus to get rid of various ailments. The venom of the bicolor phyllomedusa is also used for the initiation of young people from local tribes.
Golden mantella (lat. Mantella aurantiaca)
This charming, poisonous creature can be found in a single place (with an area of approximately 10 km²) in the east of Madagascar. The species is part of the genus Mantella from the Mantella family and is, according to the IUCN, under threat of extinction, which is explained by large-scale deforestation of tropical forests.
Fact. A sexually mature frog, usually a female, grows up to 2.5 cm, and some specimens stretch up to 3.1 cm. The amphibian has an attractive orange coloration, with a red or yellow-orange tint. Red spots are sometimes visible on the sides and thighs. The belly is usually lighter than the back.
Juveniles are dark brown and are not poisonous to others. Golden mantellas accumulate toxins as they mature, ingesting large numbers of ants and termites. The composition and potency of the poison depends on the food/habitat, but necessarily includes the following chemical compounds:
- allopumiliotoxin;
- pyrrollizidine;
- pumiliotoxin;
- quinolizidine;
- homopumiliotoxin;
- indolizidine, etc.
The combination of these substances is designed to protect the amphibian from fungi and bacteria, as well as to repel predatory animals.
Red-bellied toad (lat. Bombina bombina)
Its poison cannot be compared with the mucus of the dart frog. The maximum that threatens a person is sneezing, tears and pain when the secretion gets on the skin. But our compatriots have a higher chance of encountering a red-bellied firebird than the chance of stepping on a dart frog, since it has settled in Europe, starting from Denmark and southern Sweden with the capture of Hungary, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria and Russia.
Ecology
The most poisonous frogs, ironically, have the most amazing and beautiful appearance, however, it is extremely undesirable to touch them. Just one touch to the skin of these creatures can cost you your life. Find out more about the most poisonous, but very colorful and beautiful frogs.
1) Bicolor phyllomedusa
Phyllomedusa bicolor
This large frog, often called the monkey frog, is very curious. Although its venom is not as dangerous as that of some other representatives of the frog world, most of us are unlikely to want to try its effects: the venom can cause unpleasant hallucinations or stomach problems. We say "most of us" because some tribes on the banks of the Amazon do deliberately use their poison to induce hallucinations.
2) Spotted poison dart frog
Dendrobates tinctorius
This amazing beauty The frog can have different skin colors; it is interesting not only because its skin is poisonous, which should not be forgotten, but also because its poison has a special effect on parrots. Aboriginal peoples The Amazon uses frog poison to change the color of the feathers of parrots.
3) Red-backed poison frog
Ranitomeya reticulatus
Native to Peru, this frog has a mild venom that can cause health problems in humans and can kill some animals. Like other poisonous frogs, these beautiful little creatures require special food to produce their poison. In this case, the “raw material” of poison for them is a poisonous ant. The frog stores poison in the skin glands and releases it as needed. Most often this happens in case of danger, when some predator is about to eat the frog.
4) Little poison dart frog
Dendrobates pumilio
Very small in size, but quite bright and beautiful, this strawberry frog is found in the impenetrable forests of Central America. Her bright color warns: “Stay away, otherwise you will get burned.” You should take the threat seriously, as the frog can really sting painfully, and the sensation is similar to a burn.
5) Blue dart frog
Dendrobates azureus
This frog is really very cute, as can be seen from the photo. However, its beautiful and bright color does not bode well: its poison is enough to kill even the largest natural predator; there are cases where even people died from this poison. However, some brave people keep these creatures at home as pets. How is this possible, you ask? Fortunately, in captivity frogs lose their poisonous properties, because they do not receive special food to produce poison, and they don’t need it, since no one will offend them in the aquarium. The frog retains its wonderful appearance, but loses its poison. This applies to all frogs on our list.
6) Charming leaf climber
Phyllobates lugubris
The charming leaf climber is the least poisonous of its genus, although it still makes its victims bitterly regret that they tried to attack it. He is called "charming frog" only because of his appearance. If you want to find representatives of this species in nature, you should go to Central America. It is unlikely that you will have to look for it for a long time, since such poisonous creatures are usually not going to hide from someone.
7) Striped leaf climber
Phyllobates vittatus
As with the frogs mentioned above, these small amphibians with their bright colors warn enemies that they are not as defenseless as they seem, so you should stay away from them. The venom of these creatures causes severe pain and can even lead to paralysis.
8) Spotted poison frog
Ranitomeya variabilis
These beautiful creatures live in the tropical forests of Ecuador and Peru and are one of the most poisonous representatives of the genus Ranitomeya. The poison of one frog can be enough to kill 5 people! Although the frog looks very cute, it should not be touched under any circumstances. Even if you are lucky enough to visit the forests of Ecuador or Peru, you should not be afraid to encounter a frog. She will never attack first.
9) Three-striped leaf climber
Epipedobates tricolor
These frogs are very small, but are one of the most deadly amphibians. They can kill not only large animals, but also humans, so no one would think of playing with them. Frogs are endangered, so they can rarely be found even in their homeland - in the forests of Ecuador. To save these frogs and increase their numbers, researchers are trying to breed them in captivity. It is also important to preserve them with medical point view: the poison of these frogs is 200 times stronger than morphine and is an excellent pain reliever.
10) Terrible leaf climber
Phyllobates terribilis
This extremely poisonous frog lives in Colombia. Despite their eye-catching appearance, these creatures are not the type to play with: their bright colors warn of danger. In fact, these frogs are so poisonous that a person can die just by touching them, hence the name. Terrible leaf crawlers They do not use poison to kill their prey, but only to protect themselves from predators. Therefore, if you see frogs in the forest, but do not try to touch them, they will not cause you any harm.
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