frogs are common animals in gardens, especially on rainy days, and can be found in almost any habitat that present abundant humidity and vegetation. The species of frogs are varied, and among them there are some types of poisonous frogs, do you know what they are?
The venom of these anurans is part of a mechanism against predators, some are lethal, while others cause intoxication. Do you want to know the 10 most poisonous frogs in the world? Then keep reading this article on our site!
1. Golden Frog
The Golden Frog or Arrowhead Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is considered one of the most poisonous animals in the world. A single emission of toxins from these species is capable of killing 10 adults. It is an endemic species of the Colombian rain forests, where it lives between 100 and 200 meters above sea level.
This poisonous frog from Colombia is a diurnal species, it measures 55 millimeters and is characterized by a uniformly yellow body, although some black spots can be seen near the eyes in some specimens. There are, however, golden frogs with mint green and orange bodies. In all three cases, the bright colors indicate their toxicity to predators
two. Blue Arrow Frog
The Blue Arrow Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius), also called the Blue Arrow Frog, lives in the savannahs of Suriname and the borders with Brazil, where it lives in areas 400 meters above sea level. Like other types of poisonous frogs, it is distinguished by its vivid blue color, accompanied by several black spots on the anuran's back.
This species is considered terrestrial, although it requires water for its reproduction. Its eating habits are herbivorous and essential for synthesizing its poison, as it eats ants and insects rich in formic acid to produce toxins.
3. Strawberry Poison Frog
Among the poison dart frogs of Costa Rica is the strawberry poison dart frog(Oophaga pumilio), is also distributed in Panama and Nicaragua. Their colors can vary, bright red being one of the most common, however, it is also possible to find blue frogs of this species, or with mixtures between red and blue.
The strawberry poison dart frog is diurnal in habit and spends most of its life on land. Males are usually territorial, as a way to ensure a greater number of females at the time of mating. Its venom is not fatal to humans, but it causes swelling and burning
4. Bicolor poison frog
The Bicolor Poison Frog (Phyllobates bicolor) is among the poisonous frog species in Colombia , where it is from endemic It is considered the second most poisonous anuran in the world, although it is currently in danger of extinction.
The species is diurnal and prefers areas of tropical forest with abundant vegetation. It has a bright yellow coloration on the upper part of the body, a tone that fades to black on the legs and abdomen. Its venom is lethal to humans in a matter of seconds.
5. Madagascar Tomato Frog
The tomato frog (Dyscophus antongilii) is a species of poison dart frog endemic to Madagascar. It is easily distinguished by its size, as it reaches up to 200 grams and has a reddish color similar to a ripe tomato.
It is not a lethal species for humans, but it produces Symptoms similar to intoxication It is in danger of extinction due to the pollution that affects the water and the fact that at some point it was considered a kind of collection, so traffic reduced its populations.
6. Harlequin Frog
The harlequin frog (Atelopus varius) is a species that could be found in Costa Rica, but today it has become extinct in that country, which is why it is among the poison dart frogs of Panama The species is critically endangered. It is distinguished by a rather striking coloration: on a light yellow or orange background, the harlequin frog presents wavy and striped black spots, which cover its entire body.
7. Amarakeri Poison Frog
The Amarakeri poison frog (Ameerega shihuemoy) is a species that was discovered in the year 2017 and is among the poisonous frogs of the Amazon, as it is located in the Amazonian forests of Peru. Its population density is unknown, although it is considered in danger of extinction.
It is characterized by a black body, with bluish or red stripes on the flanks, along with brown legs. Its life takes place near rivers, where this species can be found on rocks or in the water. The species was already known by the indigenous people of the area, who were aware of its toxicity.
8. Green and Black Poison Frog
There are also green poison dart frogs, and one of them is the green and black frog (Dendrobates auratus), which is found in Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica Prefers humid lowland habitats, although some populations are located in the mountains.
This frog has a bicolor body with a mixture of black and green, which gives it its name. It is a small species, only 4 centimeters long and feeds on insects that provide it with its poison.
9. Lehmann's poison frog
The Lehmann's poison frog (Oophaga lehmanni) is a species endemic to Colombia, where it is currently only found in small areas of the forests of Cali and Choco. The species is critically endangered. It is characterized by a crossed body with wide black stripes , in combination with orange or bright red. The female of this species lays her eggs on the ground, from where she transports the tadpoles to complete their development
10. Summer's Poison Frog
The Summer poison frog (Ranitomeya summersi) is a species of poison dart frog endemic to Peru , where it is currently only distributed in a range of 243 km2 It prefers to inhabit dry areas of forests, where it can be found on the rocks. The species is characterized by a combination of black and yellow with thick and conspicuous stripes. It is in danger of extinction, as it tolerates little the changes introduced in its habitat as a result of agriculture.
Are there poisonous frogs in Mexico?
Although very rich fauna of all species can be found, including endemic animals, there are no poisonous frogs in Mexico. On the contrary, it is possible to find some species of poisonous snakes, such as coral snakes or coral snakes, snakes of the genus Crotales (rattlesnake) and nauyacas.
Are there poisonous frogs in Spain?
In Spain, and in general on the European continent, there are no poisonous frogs. The main reason for this is climatic conditions, as these species thrive in humid forest habitats and tropical temperatures.
Despite this, in Europe and Spain it is possible to find some species of poisonous frogs that have been introduced into the territory, sold as pets . Captive breeding tends to reduce the toxicity of these frogs, since they are not fed the same insects that provide them with the necessary components to synthesize these substances.
Although the risk is reduced in this way, we advise against adopting this type of frog, both because of the danger they can represent, such as the fact that many species are in danger of extinction and one could be involuntarily contributing to their exploitation.
