Poison dart frogs are some of the most toxic animals on the planet. They are also some of the most beautiful. These frogs get their name from the indigenous people of South America who used their poison to make darts and arrows. The most toxic of the poison dart frogs is the Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis). Just 2 micrograms of its venom is enough to kill a human. That’s equivalent to the weight of about 35 grains of salt.
How does such a small amount of poison kill a person? Golden poison frogs get their toxicity from alkaloids in their diet. These alkaloids are Found in insects that the frogs eat. The frogs don’t produce the poison themselves but they store it in their bodies. When the indigenous people of South America would use the frogs to make their darts and arrows they would first milk the frogs to get the poison.
The poison works by disrupting the nervous system. The alkaloids in the poison block certain ion channels in the nervous system. This causes the nervous system to become over-stimulated and leads to paralysis and death.
The good news is that there have been no recorded deaths from Golden poison frogs in the wild. The only recorded deaths have been from humans handling the frogs. So if you see one of these beautiful creatures in the wild just admire it from afar.
How long does it take for a poison dart frog to kill you?
A poison dart frog can kill you within seconds.
How much poison is in a poison dart frog?
A poison dart frog has enough poison to kill 10 adult humans.
What is the poison in a poison dart frog?
The poison in a poison dart frog is called batrachotoxin.
How does the poison in a poison dart frog kill you?
The poison in a poison dart frog kills you by causing paralysis.
Where do poison dart frogs live?
Poison dart frogs are found in the rainforests of Central and South America.
What do poison dart frogs eat?
Poison dart frogs eat insects.
Are poison dart frogs poisonous to all animals?
No poison dart frogs are only poisonous to animals with cold-blooded systems such as reptiles and amphibians.
How do poison dart frogs become poisonous?
Poison dart frogs become poisonous by eating poisonous insects.
Why are poison dart frogs poisonous?
Poison dart frogs are poisonous to defend themselves from predators.
What predators are afraid of poison dart frogs?
Some predators such as snakes are afraid of poison dart frogs because they don’t want to be poisoned.
What color are poison dart frogs?
Poison dart frogs can be brightly colored such as red yellow or green.
What do poison dart frogs use their poison for?
Poison dart frogs use their poison to kill their prey.
How big are poison dart frogs?
Poison dart frogs are small usually only 2-5 inches long.
Do humans eat poison dart frogs?
Some humans do eat poison dart frogs but it is very dangerous because the poison can kill you.
What happens if you touch a poison dart frog?
If you touch a poison dart frog the poison can get on your skin and cause irritation.
