Knowra Poison dart frog Poison dart frog Poison dart frogs are small, often brightly colored frogs native to Central and South America. Several species secrete potent skin toxins, acquired largely from their diet.
Batrachotoxin : A potent steroidal alkaloid neurotoxin found in the skin of some poison dart frogs. This toxin drives the extreme toxicity of several species, especially the golden poison frog.
Dendrobatidae : A family of frogs native to Central and South America, including poison dart frogs. Poison dart frogs belong to this family, whose species vary greatly in toxicity and coloration.
Golden poison frog : A Colombian poison dart frog species, Phyllobates terribilis, whose skin can contain exceptionally high levels of batrachotoxin. It is the best-known example of a poison dart frog with extreme toxicity.
Mantella : A genus of brightly colored frogs endemic to Madagascar, some of which acquire alkaloid defenses from their diet. Mantellas resemble poison dart frogs in color and dietary defenses but evolved separately in Madagascar.
Aposematism : A defensive strategy in which conspicuous signals advertise an organism's unprofitability or danger to predators. Bright colors warn predators that handling or eating these frogs can be costly.
Anura : The order of amphibians that includes frogs and toads. Their body plan and life cycle are part of the broader diversity of frogs.
Phantasmal poison frog : An Ecuadorian poison dart frog, Epipedobates tricolor, whose skin produces the alkaloid epibatidine. Its toxin led to research into epibatidine's potent effects on pain pathways.
Harlequin poison frog : A species of poison dart frog, Oophaga histrionica, known for striking color variation across its range. Its diverse patterns show that warning colors can vary within a single species.
Sequestration (biology) : The uptake and storage of compounds made by other organisms, often for defense. Many poison dart frogs obtain skin alkaloids from prey rather than synthesizing them themselves.
Neotropical realm : A biogeographic region encompassing tropical Central and South America and nearby islands. This is the native region where poison dart frog species evolved and diversified.
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