The bright colors of a poison-dart frog stand as a warning to predators: Do Not Touch. Their moist skin oozes some of the most potent poison in the natural world. Jungle natives extract the poison from the frogs and tip their darts to kill wild animals, such as birds and monkeys, for food.
Ant Eater: The frog's mouth contains a long sticky tongue that it flips out to grab a meal. A big part of its diet consists of ants, many of which contain small amounts of poison. The more ants the frog eats, the more lethal the poison it secretes.
Fancy Feet: Suckers on their toes enable poison-dart frogs to cling to smooth, moist leaves high in the trees.
Deadly Colors[]
Most predators can see the frog's vibrant colors and know not to try to take a taste. The frog does have enemies, however. It is hunted by tribes of Indians, who fry these frogs to obtain the poison (see below). Also, the sparkling fire-bellied snake (left) feeds regularly on the frogs because it is immune to their poison. No one can figure out why.
Killer Colors: There are dozens of species of poison-dart frog. One species is so poisonous it contains enough venom to kill 1,000 people.
The Real Skinny: The frogs have mucous glands alongside their poison glands to keep their skin soft.
Darts of Death[]
- A Choco Indian catches a frog by pinning it to the ground with a stick, then traps it in the split end of a cane and props it over a roaring fire.
- As the frog heats up, the skin on its back starts to ooze poison. The toxic white liquid boils and steams, becoming thick and sticky like glue.
- The Indian dips the point of the first of many darts in the poison, which can be effective for up to a year. One dart can kill a monkey in minutes.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The knowledge card says Poison-Dart Frogs. The trading card says Poison-Dart Frog.
- The knowledge card does not have even a Genus listed in the Creature Features section. It shares this in common with Stingrays.
- The species featured in the front illustration is the Strawberry Poison-Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio), whereas the back right features the Dyeing Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius), and "Darts of Death" features the yellow-banded poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas).
- The poison-dart frog is mentioned in comparison on the knowledge card for Mantella Frogs.
- The poison-dart frog is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- The poison dart frog's trading card is featured on Monster Mania 2, and again on Monster Mania 21, Battle of the Monsters Variations 75 on Monster Mania 75, and in the Toxic Terrors Monster Recharge explanation on Monster Mania 96.
- The frog is then featured in Lethal Weapons on Monster Mania 31.
- It is later featured in It's All Relative! on Monster Mania 41.
- It is again featured in Odd Creature Out on Monster Mania 61.