One of most lethal poisons known is batrachotoxin, which is secreted from the skin of tropical poison dart frogs. It is 15 times more deadly than curare and 10 times more toxic than tetrodotoxin from puffer fish. A fatal dose for a 150-pound adult would be about three millionths of an ounce. Death is virtually instantaneous. As with many of nature's poisons, the substance ironically has great potential for providing a source of life-saving medications.
Because of the deforestation of the rain forest and resulting loss of habitat for the amphibians, the National Aquarium in Baltimore started breeding them at their facility in order to have a source for the poison while avoiding depopulating the frogs in the wild. The Aquarium eggheads became gobsmacked to discover that the Baltimore-bred batrachians did not produce the toxin. After much research and headscratching, the Aquarium folks solved the mystery.
Because of the deforestation of the rain forest and resulting loss of habitat for the amphibians, the National Aquarium in Baltimore started breeding them at their facility in order to have a source for the poison while avoiding depopulating the frogs in the wild. The Aquarium eggheads became gobsmacked to discover that the Baltimore-bred batrachians did not produce the toxin. After much research and headscratching, the Aquarium folks solved the mystery.
The poison is made by certain tropical plants and is absorbed, without harm, by insects which feed on the plants. The frogs then feed on the insects, again without any adverse reaction, and the poison is stored within the frogs.
Frogs which are kept in captivity and which do not have a diet of tropical insects are thus completely harmless.
Like their poisonous cousins in the wild, the captive-bred herptiles come in a wide variety of vivid color schemes. They make magnificent pets. You can view many examples of these delightful amphibians in person at the National Aquarium.
Like their poisonous cousins in the wild, the captive-bred herptiles come in a wide variety of vivid color schemes. They make magnificent pets. You can view many examples of these delightful amphibians in person at the National Aquarium.
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