The most poisonous and most beautiful frogs. The most poisonous frog in the world
There is a proverb: “All that glitters is not gold.” This expression fits very well the description of an amphibian called « golden frog» . Its other name, which is more official, is the terrible leaf climber (Phyllobates terribilis). From the name alone one can conclude that this animal has somehow displeased humanity.
Some rub their hands with pleasure, wanting to grow such a miracle in at home. Do not rush to rejoice - a golden frog raised in captivity most often loses its poisonousness. For the poison to be produced in to the fullest, she must eat poisonous insects and worms, and these are found mainly in the habitats of this individual.
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The terrible leaf climber is now endangered. In general, its homeland is Colombia, where it lives along the entire Pacific coast. Warm climate, frequent rains, high humidity- all the delights of the tropical forest that such frogs simply adore. They live in groups of up to six in nature, but larger numbers can be bred in an aquarium.
The size of amphibians is very small, the color is bright and... However, not everything is so harmless. These animals are not just poisonous, but very poisonous. Even just touching it can cost you your life if you see such an individual in a real tropical forest. Unfortunately, such facts have already been recorded more than once.
What kind of poison is this, you ask? The skin of the golden frog is covered with thick, thick batrachotoxin. It is a poisonous alkaloid and is contained in the skin of many poison dart frogs. But only the golden representative has so much poison that nervous system any mammal, including humans, is instantly paralyzed under its influence. Impulses cease to be transmitted in the body, the work of all muscles, including the heart, stops.
But the worst thing is that even after the death of the animal, this poison is still capable of doing evil! And to convey to you, so to speak, “greetings from the other world.” One animal contains approximately 1 mg of batrachotoxin. This amount will kill approximately 10 thousand mice! Also, such a dose will be lethal for 10-20 people, two African elephants and three bulls.
Of course, nature did not come up with this mechanism for the terrible leaf climber so that everyone would hate it. This is a kind of self-defense mechanism. Companion in toxicity in Phyllobates terribilis - box jellyfish, a slightly less toxic species that lives in seawater.
As you understand, our heroine has practically no enemies. Except for the snake Liophis Epinephelu, which is not very susceptible to this poison, although there is still no complete insurance. The tribesmen themselves are also not afraid of touching each other.
If you want to have such an individual, then know: the simple ones that you feed the frog will eventually remove toxic substances from the body forever. And then stroke yours pet as much as it will fit.
The most poisonous frogs, ironically, have the most amazing and beautiful appearance, however, it is extremely undesirable to touch them. Just one touch to the skin of these creatures can cost you your life. Find out more about the most poisonous, but very colorful and beautiful frogs.
1) Bicolor phyllomedusa
Phyllomedusa bicolor
![](https://i0.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/2ba/2ba7f23909102277f6e488afdc50c187.jpg)
This large frog, often called the monkey frog, is very curious. Although its venom is not as dangerous as that of some other representatives of the frog world, most of us are unlikely to want to try its effects: the venom can cause unpleasant hallucinations or stomach problems. We say "most of us" because some tribes on the banks of the Amazon do deliberately use their poison to induce hallucinations.
2) Spotted poison dart frog
Dendrobates tinctorius
![](https://i0.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/85a/85ad1d18779da5ecb5121c57262d5348.jpg)
This amazing beauty the frog may have different colors skin, it is interesting not only because its skin is poisonous, which should not be forgotten, but also because its poison has a special effect on parrots. Indigenous peoples of the Amazon use frog poison to change the color of the feathers of parrots.
3) Red-backed poison frog
Ranitomeya reticulatus
![](https://i1.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/47a/47ae0e35e735bbffac76dc85b78bd286.jpg)
Native to Peru, this frog has a mild venom that can cause health problems in humans and can kill some animals. Like other poisonous frogs, these beautiful little creatures require special food to produce their poison. In this case, the “raw material” of poison for them is poisonous ant. The frog stores poison in the skin glands and releases it as needed. Most often this happens in case of danger, when some predator is about to eat the frog.
4) Little poison dart frog
Dendrobates pumilio
![](https://i1.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/d2c/d2cfb1d6e1ce4faf6a5232dcb765ef0b.jpg)
Very small in size, but quite bright and beautiful, this strawberry frog is found in impenetrable forests Central America. Its bright color warns: “Stay away or you will get burned.” You should take the threat seriously, as the frog can really sting painfully, and the sensation is similar to a burn.
5) Blue dart frog
Dendrobates azureus
![](https://i2.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/bd8/bd88b50e66149e20452a50aa02264a4e.jpg)
This frog is really very cute, as can be seen from the photo. However, its beautiful and bright color does not bode well: its poison is enough to kill even the largest natural predator; there are cases where even people died from this poison. However, some brave people keep these creatures at home as pets. How is this possible, you ask? Fortunately, in captivity frogs lose their poisonous properties, because they do not receive special food to produce poison, and they don’t need it, since no one will offend them in the aquarium. The frog retains its wonderful appearance, but loses its poison. This applies to all frogs on our list.
6) Charming leaf climber
Phyllobates lugubris
![](https://i1.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/350/35029f39878ba7f8beea19c485803e23.jpg)
The charming leaf climber is the least poisonous of its genus, although it still makes its victims bitterly regret that they tried to attack it. He is called "charming frog" only because of his appearance. If you want to find representatives of this species in nature, you should go to Central America. It is unlikely that you will have to look for it for a long time, since such poisonous creatures are usually not going to hide from someone.
7) Striped leaf climber
Phyllobates vittatus
![](https://i0.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/ffb/ffbc65e3adb8ea98289201ce3928533a.jpg)
As with the frogs mentioned above, these small amphibians with their bright colors warn enemies that they are not as defenseless as they seem, so you should stay away from them. The venom of these creatures causes severe pain and can even lead to paralysis.
8) Spotted poison frog
Ranitomeya variabilis
![](https://i0.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/9d5/9d5758be24c124c2181f52e629bb21f4.jpg)
These beautiful creatures live in tropical forests Ecuador and Peru and are among the most poisonous representatives sort of Ranitomeya. The poison of one frog can be enough to kill 5 people! Although the frog looks very cute, it should not be touched under any circumstances. Even if you are lucky enough to visit the forests of Ecuador or Peru, you should not be afraid to encounter a frog. She will never attack first.
9) Three-striped leaf climber
Epipedobates tricolor
![](https://i0.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/864/864242f89675b027ab89584c6a8a23a5.jpg)
These frogs are very small, but are one of the most deadly amphibians. They can kill not only large animals, but also humans, so no one would think of playing with them. Frogs are endangered, so they can rarely be found even in their homeland - in the forests of Ecuador. To save these frogs and increase their numbers, researchers are trying to breed them in captivity. Preserving them is also important from a medical point of view: the poison of these frogs is 200 times stronger than morphine and is an excellent pain reliever.
10) Terrible leaf climber
Phyllobates terribilis
![](https://i2.wp.com/infoniac.ru/upload/medialibrary/710/7105646d492a2b7ab194b479c1fa4e48.jpg)
This is extremely poison frog lives in Colombia. Despite their eye-catching appearance, these creatures are not the type to play with: their bright colors warn of danger. In fact, these frogs are so poisonous that a person can die just by touching them, hence the name. Dire leaf climbers do not use venom to kill their prey, but only to protect themselves from predators. Therefore, if you see frogs in the forest, but do not try to touch them, they will not cause you any harm.
On our planet there are many different poisonous creatures. And some of them use their poisons for both defense and attack. In this article we will tell you about the most poisonous frogs that live in different corners our Earth.
The most poisonous frogs on our Earth are frogs from the dart frog family. Size adult frog ranges from 3 - 6 cm, but some representatives of this species reach a size of 8 cm, females usually larger than males.
Dart frogs have webbed feet, and there are small suckers at the ends of the toes of the front paws. Frogs have a variety of very bright colors. The skin of a dart frog is permeated with glands that secrete microscopic doses of poison; even one dose of this poison can kill a jaguar, as well as kill 10 people.
The poison of these frogs consists of a hundred different substances and is very toxic. Death comes even if a small amount of the poison will get on the skin. When the poison gets in, paralysis of the upper respiratory tract, arrhythmia, myocardial paralysis, ventricular fibrillation. There is no vaccine against this poison.
There is an assumption that the poison accumulates when eating ants and ticks. When the frog is kept in captivity and eats other foods, the toxicity of the poison is reduced.
Dart frogs inhabit the territories of Brazil, Guiana, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname. They live in small bodies of water and lead a diurnal terrestrial lifestyle, although they are called dart frogs, but they rarely climb higher than a small stump or onto a fallen tree. At night they sleep under leaves, under stones, in moss, under snags.
But the orange poison dart frog and the black and yellow giant prefer to climb tree trunks and are located in the crown at a height of 1.5 to 15 meters. Eating small insects- ants, mosquitoes, ticks, midges. Food is obtained using a sticky tongue, the tongue is sharply thrown forward and the insects stick to it.
Dart frogs breed on land, during the rainy season, once a year from February to March. The female lays in damp places, directly on the ground or in the leaves of a bromeliad plant from 5 to 30 eggs.
Usually the males take care of and protect the clutch, moisten it with water so that the eggs do not dry out and mix it. Until the tadpoles hatch, they protect the eggs, since the females can eat them. When the tadpoles appear, dart frogs carry them on their backs to nearby bodies of water or to huge bromeliad leaves filled with water.
Tadpoles feed aquatic plants, insects, remains of plants, insects, worms that have fallen into the water, sometimes they are not averse to snacking on their fellow creatures. After 14-18 days, the tadpoles turn into frogs and switch to a terrestrial lifestyle.
The most venomous poison dart frogs are the spotted poison dart frog, the little poison dart frog, and the blue poison dart frog.
The spotted poison frog is native to Peru, Western Brazil and the rainforests of Ecuador and is one of the most poisonous members of the spotted frog genus. The poison of one frog is enough to poison 5 people.
This is a small frog, ranging from 16 to 19 mm, with females slightly larger than males. The frog's body is black, covered with yellow round or elongated spots. Limbs of blue color with black spots, the paws are large, the first toe is shorter than the second, at the ends of the toes there are large roundnesses, twice as wide as the toe, but on the first toe there is no such roundness. The frog has a narrow head and a rounded muzzle. The main diet of frogs consists of small insects, mites and ants.
Females lay eggs, and fertilized eggs are placed one or more in small holes in trees where there is water. Once the tadpoles begin to hatch, the male takes each tadpole to other hollows and all tadpoles are raised separately from each other. Tadpoles feed on unfertilized eggs, which the female lays every 5-10 days. The tadpole tears the outer shell of the egg with its jaws and eats only the yolk.
This deadly frog lives in the rainforests of southwestern Colombia and is one of the most poisonous frogs in the world. The venom of this amphibian has a neuro- paralytic effect and is capable of killing not only a large animal, but is also deadly to humans; just by touching the skin of a frog, you can die. Toxic substance- batrachotoxin, blocks nerve channels and has a paralyzing effect on the muscles, including the heart muscle, and the person dies from arrhythmia or heart failure.
The poison is produced in the frog's body when processing food that contains toxins. Leaf climbers feed on ants, mites, small beetles and other small insects. If a frog is fed other foods for a year, no poison is produced.
The frog is colored bright yellow color, body size is from 2 to 4 cm, fingers without membranes, widened at the ends and play the role of suckers, with the help of which leaf climbers move along the branches and leaves of plants.
Leaf climbers are diurnal, living in families that consist of a male and 3-5 females. They reproduce by laying 15 to 30 eggs on land, in damp places.
The male watches over the eggs, and when the tadpoles hatch, he takes care of them. Small tadpoles attach to the back of the male and move with him to the water. When tadpoles are 10 days old, they begin to swim independently. After two weeks they turn into frogs and come out onto land. Little frogs pale yellow colors with black stripes on the back and sides, but as they grow, they acquire a bright yellow color. In nature, leaf climbers are found with orange and red, as well as pale green skin color.
Another poisonous frog living on our planet is called the bicolor phyllomedusa, belongs to the tree frog family and is also considered a very dangerous frog. This frog lives in the Amazon forests in western and northern Brazil, northern Bolivia, southeastern Colombia and Venezuela, Guiana and eastern Peru.
The poison of this frog causes hallucinations, problems with gastrointestinal tract. Local tribes living along the banks of the Amazon specifically use poison to induce hallucinations.
The body length of the bicolor phyllomedusa is 6 cm, the upper side of the frog's body is green, and the sides and legs have different colors from orange-red until purple.
Two-colored phyllomedusae live in the crowns tall trees, clinging to thin branches and leaves with your fingers. Caviar is laid on trees in wide leaves, which are wrapped and glued in the form of a bag.
Another frog, more precisely, the Chiriquita toad is considered one of the most poisonous frogs in the world. This toad lives on the isthmus between North and South America, in Panama and Costa Rica. It is brightly colored and small in size - the male is only about three cm in size, and the females grow from 3.5 to 5 cm. The chiriquita toad is endangered.
The poison is a neurotoxin produced by the skin and contained in the mucus of the toad. If the venom of this toad gets on a person’s skin, the sodium and potassium channels in the nerve endings are blocked and the person’s coordination of movements is impaired, convulsions occur and paralysis of the limbs occurs. There is no antidote, but during general detoxification of the body, it leaves a chance for survival.
All the frogs that we told you about have a very attractive appearance, thanks to their bright, varied skin color, but they are among the most dangerous creatures on our planet.
Phyllobates terribilis—
a small frog from the genus of leaf climbers of the poison dart frog family. One of the most poisonous vertebrates on Earth. I - batrachotoxin.
(5 photos)
This the amphibian is considered one of the most poisonous representatives of the fauna of our planet. Terrible leaf climber is the world's largest poisonous frog.
It’s hard to imagine, but this “monster”, dangerous for all living things, measures only two to four centimeters! What is its danger?
Why is the terrible leaf climber so scary?
The most main feature The golden frog is that the danger when encountering it lies not in the teeth, the poisonous sting, or the toxic liquid injected at the moment of danger. This amphibian has a poisonous entire surface of its skin; it is covered with so much toxic substance – batrachotoxin that it is enough to poison more than ten people with a tragic outcome. And it doesn’t matter whether someone tries to offend her or just accidentally touches her - this is deadly! The poison, when it gets on the victim, blocks the nerve channels, has a paralyzing effect on the muscles, including the heart, so death occurs from heart failure or arrhythmia.
Horrible
leaf climber (Phyllobates terribilis).
The indigenous peoples of Colombia have used this poison for centuries to lubricate arrowheads, but the most amazing thing is that the toxin retains its terrible properties up to two years! It is known that if any animal simply sits in the place where the terrible leaf climber was previously, its death is inevitable. One frog may contain only up to one milligram of batrachotoxin, but this amount is enough to kill two elephants. With its bright colors, the frog seems to warn everyone: "Careful - I'm very dangerous!"
A terrible leaf climber, a seemingly ordinary, small harmless frog.
What are the structural features of the golden frog?
Terrible leaf climbers very rarely reach sizes greater than five centimeters in length. One of the features of frogs of this species is the absence of membranes on their legs. But at the tips of their fingers there are disc-shaped extensions, similar to suction cups, with the help of which they climb trees. In addition, these frogs, unlike all other representatives of the genus, have bone plates in the lower jaw - the rudiments of teeth. It is also curious that these amphibians cannot tolerate even short-term hunger strikes. They must eat often, otherwise just three days without food can kill them.
The venom of this harmless amphibian is extremely toxic..
Habitat of Leaf Climbers– tropical rainforests, their lower layer, where they settle in small groups and lead a daily lifestyle. Usually their "family" consists of four or five females and only one male, because males They have a strong sense of ownership and fight with each other for territory. Their confrontation is expressed as follows: the males first compete with their voices, producing short trills from several minutes to several hours, and if no one gives in, then it all ends in a real brawl, reminiscent of freestyle wrestling.
Terrible leaf climbers are caring parents and excellent hunters
Another feature of these amphibians is that they spawn on land, and not in water, like most of their relatives. In dark and damp thickets, the female lays 15 - 30 eggs and considers her mission completed - she leaves. The father remains near the eggs, he protects them, waters them with water, and periodically stirs them with his hind legs. A few days later, when the tadpoles appear, the father places them on his back and heads to the pond.
Terrible leaf climber - poisonous yellow frog.
It takes two or three weeks for the tadpoles to develop into... aquatic environment, and then the baby frogs are born. Now they can go ashore and begin independent life, but still young individuals continue to live for quite a long time with their parents or not far from them. This can continue until the moment when the grown frogs themselves are ready to create their own “family.”
An interesting fact remains that the golden poison frog never uses its terrible poison for hunting, feeding on ticks, small ants, bugs and other insects. By nature she is a peaceful creature, and her formidable weapon– poisonous toxin – serves only for self-defense.
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Any Living being instinctively strives for self-preservation. To do this, animals use a variety of protective techniques. Some have a dense shell, others have sharp claws, and some defend themselves from enemies with deadly poisons. For example, this is exactly what the most poisonous frogs in the world do.
Similar substances are contained inside many amphibians, but most often the maximum that contact with them leads to is irritation of the skin or mucous membranes. However, when it comes to tropical animals, everything changes. If you see a frog painted in bright colors, you should stay as far away from her as possible.
The bicolor phyllomedusa is a representative of one of the most large families tailless amphibians, tree frogs. These are quite small frogs, the size of which usually does not exceed 119 mm. You can meet phyllomedusa in areas adjacent to the Amazon basin. Occasionally it appears in the Brazilian savannas and Cerrado forests.
![](https://i1.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/phyllomedusa-bicolor_01_zoogalaxy.jpg)
The animal has green color, the belly can be white or cream. On the limbs and chest of the phyllomedusa you can see several white spots that have dark edges. The frog's eyes are equipped with special glands that allow it to see freely while in water. It is a widespread species overall, but is still endangered.
Compared to some other frogs found in the Amazon, the bicolor phyllomedusa is relatively non-venomous. If its secretions get on the skin, the person will not die, although he will develop gastrointestinal disorders, and there is also a high risk of hallucinations. Phyllomidusa venom is used Indian tribes in initiation rites for men and women, and also with its help, some folk medicines are made.
![](https://i0.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Dvuhtsvetnaya-fillomeduza.jpg)
The family of tailless amphibians called dart frogs are distinguished by big amount poisonous representatives. For example, among them stands out the spotted dart frog, which is also known as the dye frog. In nature, they can be of various colors, but any variant of them is very dangerous for humans.
![](https://i2.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/810106-1.jpg)
The spotted poison dart frog can be seen mainly during the daytime in tropical forests. They prefer lower tiers in the territories of Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil and Suriname. In terms of body shape and size, the spotted poison dart frog does not differ from ordinary ones. large frogs. As a rule, females are larger than males, their maximum size can reach eight centimeters.
![](https://i0.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/pyatn.jpg)
The color of the spotted dart frog depends on its subspecies. For example, there are Citronellas, the back and sides of which are painted bright yellow, and the rest of the body is black or blue. At the same time, the color of the animal can change for a variety of reasons, ranging from the color of the soil to the mood of Citronella.
The skin of spotted dart frogs contains batrachotoxin alkaloids. If they get to human body, will have the most negative impact on the condition of cardio-vascular system, up to cardiac arrest. It is believed that poisonous substance accumulates in the poison dart frog's body due to eating ants and mites. It is used by Indians to create wind weapons.
![](https://i1.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/0_16ee82_5976b8f2_orig.jpg)
If the poison simply gets on a person’s skin, then it does not pose a serious danger. In this case, a burning sensation is felt, and a slight headache. Despite its toxicity, because of its beautiful appearance and behavioral characteristics, spotted dart frogs are actively raised at home.
Opinions vary as to what the blue dart frog is. Some highlight it in separate species dart frogs, while others consider it a subspecies of the previous representative of the most poisonous frogs in the world, the spotted dart frog. This animal is of average size - no more than five centimeters. As the name suggests, the body is painted blue, while the paws are blue. There are many black spots on the surface of the skin.
![](https://i0.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1408361236_4.jpg)
Most often you can find the blue dart frog in the largest district of Suriname, Sipaliwini. These frogs prefer the ground and foliage tropical forests savannas. Here they find insects for food. Blue dart frogs are actively destroyed by local hunters, and therefore they are endangered.
![](https://i0.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Dendrobates_azureus5.jpg)
This species differs from most poison dart frogs by combining large groups. Usually about fifty individuals live together. They live on coastal rocks, which are covered with bushes. Females use a nearby body of water to lay eggs and raise tadpoles.
Blue dart frogs use their venom for more than just repelling predators. With its help, the animal fights pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Like most spotted poison dart frogs, the blue is also a popular terrarium animal.
![](https://i1.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Goluboy-drevolaz.jpg)
In the poison dart frog family, there is a genus with a similar name – leaf frogs. The striped leaf climber is painted predominantly black, but on its back there is bright stripe. In some individuals it is yellow. A wide strip of bright orange, red or gold runs along the frog's face and all the way to the base of the thigh. There is also a white line on their bodies that extends beyond the shoulder.
The feet of striped leaf climbers are blue-green due to many small specks. Also on the underside, light spots of blue and green colors create a marble pattern. Striped leaf climbers are distinguished by their very small size. Adult males grow to a maximum of 26 mm, while females can be 31 mm.
![](https://i1.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Polosatyiy-listolaz.jpg)
You can meet such frogs in the bay Pacific Ocean, which is called Golfo Dulce, or wet forests near Costa Rica. Striped leaf climbers live on high terrain, up to 500 m above sea level. They hide between tree roots and in rocky crevices, leading a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle.
Among the dart frogs and the genus of leaf climbers, one frog stands out, which this moment recognized as the most poisonous in the world. Its name alone speaks volumes - the terrible leaf climber. This is a medium-sized animal, up to four centimeters, with a very bright and contrasting color. Unlike most frogs, female and male dire leaf climbers do not differ in size.
The animals are common in the southwestern tropical forests of Colombia. During the daytime, they are actively engaged in searching for and eating ticks, ants and other small insects. They require a relatively large amount of food, and just three or four days of starvation are quite capable of killing a healthy individual.
![](https://i2.wp.com/topkin.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3823175069_41f5f7f9c7_b.jpg)
The individual itself is capable of killing almost anyone. The poison batrachotoxin does not have to be ingested by a person to cause death. Touching the dreaded foliage is enough to cause the death of a living being. Local tribes use the poison of just one frog to create several dozen poisonous arrows.
Despite this degree of toxicity, terrible leaf climbers are actively grown in captivity. However, in terrariums they have to eat other food, and therefore they gradually stop producing poison. If leaf climber offspring are born in captivity, they are no longer poisonous.