Biology: 5 Frogs

3. Golden poison dart frog

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Golden poison dart frog.

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Considered to be one of the most toxic animals, the bright yellow color of the Golden poison dart frog serves as a warning to its powerful poison. They live mainly within a tiny plot of rain forest on the Pacific coast of Colombia. These frogs are 2 inches (5 cm). These brightly colored amphibians are among the largest of the more than 100 poison dart frog species, averaging more than one inch (two and a half centimeters) in length.

Golden poison dart frogs are not poisonous in captivity because they get there poison from what they eat. It is possible they assimilate plant poisons, which are carried by their prey. Their diet includes flies, crickets, ants, termites, and beetles.

Their powerful poison (along with the poison dart frogs) was used on blow darts by indigenous people.

The medical research community has been exploring possible medicinal uses for the golden poison dart frog's venom. They have already developed a synthetic version of one of the venom's compounds that has promise as a powerful painkiller.

Sources:
Wikipedia
National Geographic