Poisonous amphibians

Poisonous Amphibians are amphibians that produce toxins to defend themselves from predators.

Except certain salamandrid salamanders that can extrude sharp venom-tipped ribs,[1][2] amphibians are not known to actively inject venom, most toxic amphibians are instead known to be poisonous to touch or eat. Amphibians usually sequester toxins from animals and plants that they feed on, commonly from poisonous insects or poisonous plants. One example of this is the well known poison dart frog. They get a deadly chemical called lipophilic alkaloid from consuming a poisonous plant in the rainforest. And they are immune to the poison so they secrete it through their skin as a defense mechanism against predators, just as other amphibians do. This poison is so efficient that the native people of the south American amazons use the frogs toxins on their weapons to kill their prey, giving the frogs their nickname the "poison arrow dart frog". However other people use the Bufotoxins of some species of toxic toads as a drug to get high, but this can become very dangerous. Usually due to the toads size and toxicity the poisons would not be deadly to a fully grown, healthy adult. But if too much of the toxins are absorbed, or if the person is young or ill then the poisons can become a serious threat. It also depends on the species, because some types of amphibians do have toxins strong enough to kill even a healthy and fully matured person with in just a few minutes, while other species may not have toxins potent enough to have any effect on you at all. In addition licking toads is not biologically practical. In order for these tryptamines to be orally activated, the human monoamine oxidase (MAO) system needs to be inhibited. Therefore licking a poisonous amphibian won't guarantee receiving a high sensation.

Contents

Toxic amphibians

See also

Reference

  1. ^ "Venomous Amphibians (Page 1) - Reptiles (Including Dinosaurs) and Amphibians - Ask a Biologist Q&A". Askabiologist.org.uk. http://www.askabiologist.org.uk/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=1494. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  2. ^ Robert T. Nowak and Edmund D. Brodie, Jr. (1978). "Rib Penetration and Associated Antipredator Adaptations in the Salamander Pleurodeles waltl (Salamandridae)". Copeia 1978 (3): 424–429. doi:10.2307/1443606. JSTOR 1443606. 

External links