Golden Poison Frog
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| Phyllobates terribilis (Myers, Daly, and Malkin, 1978) |
One of the largest of all poison dart frogs, Phyllobates terribilis is also the main source of poison hunting darts used by the Choco Emberá people in Colombia's Rainforest.
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[edit] Poison
Its alkaloid poison, Batrachotoxin, prevents nerves from transmitting impulses, leaving the muscles in an inactive state of contraction. This can lead to heart failure or fibrillation. It also lasts long after the frog has left the area; chickens and dogs have died from contact with a paper towel that a frog had walked on.[citation needed] One wild adult terribilis (meaning, 'the terrible')has enough poison to kill up to 100 adult humans, or up to 20,000 mice [1]. However, this poison is lost in captive-bred and raised frogs due to a lack of certain items in its diet, currently unknown, although new research has hinted that a beetle from the family Melyridae may be the key ingredient responsible for the frog's lethal poison.[2]
[edit] Morphs
Phyllobates terribilis occurs in different color morphs around the area. Orange, mint green, and yellow frogs are frequently seen.
[edit] Mint Green
This phase exist in the La Brea area of Colombia and is the most common form seen in capitivy. The name "mint green" is actually rather misleading as the frogs of this phase can be metallic green, pale green, or white.
[edit] Yellow
The yellow phase of Phyllobates terribilis is the reason it has the common name, Golden poison dart frog. Yellow terribilis are found in Quebrada Guangui, Colombia, and Guyana. These frogs can be pale yellow to a deep, golden yellow color. A frog sold under the name "Gold terribilis" was once believed to be a deeper yellow terribilis. However, genetic tests have proven these frogs to be a uniform colored morph of phyllobates bicolor
[edit] Orange
While not as common as the other two morphs, orange terribilis exist in Colombia as well. They tend to be a metallic orange color or yellow-orange with varying intensity.
[edit] Captive care
Like the other poison dart frogs, Phyllobates terribilis is harmless when raised away from its natural food source. They are a popular rainforest vivarium subject and are somewhat easier to feed than some dart frogs. Larger species of fruit flies, small crickets, waxworms, small mealworms, termites, and phoenix worms can be used if supplemented with calcium and other minerals. The temperature should be in the low to mid 20s (°C). They are sensitive to high heat and suffer from a condition called wasting syndrome if overheated for too long. They require high humidity as they come from one of the world's most humid rainforests. P. terribilis is not as territorial as most dart frogs and can successfully be kept in groups. However, they require a slightly larger enclosure due to their adult size, similar to the enclosure size used for Dendrobates tinctorius. Occasional disputes may occur, but injuries are rare, and death is never the result of such conflicts.
[edit] External links
- A dangerously toxic new frog (Phyllobates) used by Emberá Indians of western Colombia, with discussion of blowgun fabrication and dart poisoning - Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 161, article 2
- Beetle May Be Source of Frog's Poison - USA Today
[edit] References
- Bolívar & Lötters (2004). Phyllobates terribilis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered
