Some of the most beautiful things on this planet are also some of the most deadly. But that's the point - by standing out with vibrant colours, a species can ward off potential predators. This is the strategy of these tiny, vibrantly coloured, and highly toxic frogs.
1. Golden poison dart frog
Credit: gordon2208
We might as well start our gallery with the most toxic of all poisonous frogs, and perhaps the most poisonous animal in the world, the golden poison frog. Even its scientific name, Phyllobates terribilis, shows that small things can be incredibly harmful. The poison it carries is derived from its diet, and depending on location and diet, the average wild golden poison frog contains about one milligram of poison, which is enough to kill somewhere between 10 and 20 humans. Despite having this staggeringly powerful self-defense, it is still an endangered species. [Videos]
Read on to see more gorgeous but deadly frogs.
2. Blue poison dart frog
Credit: Alex Bartok
The blue poison dart frog is found in southern Suriname and northern to central Brazil. Though all the members of this species are a brilliant blue colour, the black spots are unique to each individual. Like most other poison frog species, they lose their toxicity in captivity as a result of an altered diet. Because this species is so easy to keep in captivity, it is popular as a pet.
3. Black-legged dart frog
Credit: drriss & marrionn
You may have noticed that this frog, the black-legged dart frog, looks similar to the golden dart frog. Indeed it is, and it is also the second most toxic frog on earth after its like-coloured cousin. Though it is a little smaller and more slender than the golden dart frog, and its toxin is a little weaker, it has still caused the death of humans.
4. Dyeing dart frog
Credit: Roger Le Guen
The dyeing dart frog is one of the largest species of poison dart frog, yet it only grows to be about two inches long. It is a species from the genus Dendrobates, which is less toxic than the Phyllobates genus (the most toxic genus of poison frogs, and the genus to which the golden dart frog and black-legged dart frog belong). The toxin still has some interesting effects, however. Not only is it used to poison the tips of arrows for hunting, but indigenous tribes of the Guiana Shield rub the skin of juvenile parrots with the frog, which causes their feathers to grow in different colours. And that explains the species' common name. [Videos]
5. Phantasmal poison frog
Credit: H. Crisp
The phantasmal poison frog is not only beautiful, but it is also exceptionally tiny. It grows to only about .4 inches to 1.6 inches in length. But don't let that small stature food you. It carries enough poison to kill even an adult human. Scientists have looked into the possibilities of using the potent poison of this frog, and have developed a painkiller called epibatadine that is 200 times more powerful than morphine yet without any addictive qualities. Currently scientists are trying to breed the species in captivity while maintaining its toxicity - something most poison frogs lose because the diet from which they derive the poison is altered. Captive breeding will be a must for future study since the phantasmal poison frog is endangered in its native Equador, due primarily to habitat loss.
6. Strawberry poison dart frog
Credit: ggallice
The strawberry poison dart frog is not the most toxic poison frog out there, but it is the most toxic of its genus, Oophaga. And you'll want to be wary of this species because you might not know what you're looking at, at least perhaps not at first. This species is usually bright red, but there are somewhere between 15 and 30 different colour morphs, ranging from completely red, to the "blue jeans" coloration shown here, all the way to green with black spots! Even though its toxin is much weaker than species in the Phyllobates genus, it still packs a punch, causing swelling and a burning sensation. [Video]
7. Lovely poison frog
Credit: drriss & marrionn
The lovely poison frog is also known as the striped poison frog. Native to Central America, this is one of the least toxic of the Phyllobates genus (but is still in the most toxic genus of poison frogs). Though it indeed looks lovely, it is still deadly. It can hold enough toxin to cause heart failure in predators that try to eat it.
8. Kokoe poison dart frog
Credit: Brian Gratwicke
The kokoe poison dart frog is the third most toxic member of the Phyllobates genus, just behind the golden poison dart frog and the black-legged poison frog when encountered in the wild. It is also the tiniest of all three, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in song. Its call has been described as "beautiful and bird-like." Instead of males wrestling each other for dominance, they will simply face off and call loudly until one of them backs down. But don't be lured in by that song - this frog's toxin seeps in through open wounds and pores, causing intense pain, fever and seizures. Human fatalities from this frog have been suspected, though not confirmed.
9. Golfodulcean poison frog
Credit: Patrick Gijsbers
This beautiful species is part of the genus Phyllobates, and is the fourth most toxic member. While quite a bit less toxic than the golden poison frog, black-legged poison frog, and kokoe poison frog, which rank ahead of it, it is still nothing to be trifled with. Its poison causes excruciating pain, mild seizures, and sometimes even paralysis. The life of this frog, including how it gets its toxicity is still a mystery to science. Other species of the genus Phyllobates take their poison from a small beetle of the family Melyridae, but because the Golfodulcean poison frog's toxin is weaker, it might actually get its toxins from another yet-to-be-discovered invertebrate. Researchers will have to hurry to unravel the mystery, though, as this species is endangered by habitat loss.
10. Splash-back poison frog
Credit: Brian Gratwicke
You can find this beautiful frog living in the rainforest of Ecuador and Colombia. But don't try looking for it - or at least if you do look, don't touch. It is the most toxic member of its genus, Ranitomeya, and the toxin secreting from its skin can kill up to five humans. The colour of the frog's "splashed" back can range from lemon yellow to vivid oranges to bright red, and sometimes the colour takes up the entire back, with little or no black remaining except for the legs and underside.
11. Red-backed poison frog
Credit: Brian Gratwicke
This species, the red-backed poison frog, is the second most poisonous in its genus, right after the splash-backed poison frog you just saw. And indeed, there are similarities in the colouring such as the "splash" of colour along the back. But while the toxicity of this frog is quite a bit less than the splash-backed, it can still kill smaller predators like birds, and can cause serious injury to humans. You can thank ants, since this frog gets its toxicity from the neurotoxic venom of the ants it eats. This is one of the smaller species of poison dart frogs and has landed into the "thumbnail" group, as in, it is so small it will fit on your thumbnail (that is, if you were crazy enough to touch it).
12. Green and black poison dart frog
Credit: biologo
Though not as toxic as some other species, the green and black poison dart frog holds enough poison to make a human quite ill. These beautiful little frogs range in shades of green from a dark forest, to mint, lime, emerald, and turquoise, and can even be outside of the green spectrum with pale yellow or cobalt blue coloration. Native to Central America and northwestern parts of South America, these colourful frogs make popular pets. For some species, that spells disaster, but thankfully for this species they are still quite numerous.
13. Yellow-banded poison dart frog
Credit: drriss & marrionn
The yellow-banded poison dart frog is also known as the bumblebee poison frog, and it's not hard to see why. Though they have a somewhat lower toxicity level than some species, and are not actually one of the species used by indigenous tribes for poisoned arrows, there's a good reason why they're coloured like a hazard sign. Wild-caught frogs of this species can do plenty of damage to predators.
14. Granular poison frog
Credit: Brian Gratwicke
The granular poison frog is found in Costa Rica and Panama, and has a bright red body that serves as a warning for its toxicity. Despite its bright colours and built-in protection system, it is listed as a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and degradation from agriculture, logging and human settlement. It is also captured for the pet trade but the extent of capture isn't known. For these frogs, like many species, humans are a bigger threat than predators.
15. Harlequin poison frog
Credit: Mauricio Rivera Correa
The harlequin poison frog has a fun-loving name, but these little guys produce a poison known as histrionicotoxins, which is different from the highly toxic batrachotoxins produced by other frogs like the golden poison dart frog and black-legged dart frog. Though less toxic, it is still toxic enough to have been desired by indigenous people for deadly darts. It is also of interest to scientists, due to its unique properties and how it affects the body. This interesting and special species is found ranging from Western Ecuador to the El Chocó region of Colombia.
16. Corroboree frog
Credit: Australian Alps
Now this poison frog is quite a bit different from others we've been discussing. First, it doesn't live in the rainforests of Central and South America, but in the sub-alpine areas of Australia. Second, instead of getting its toxins from its prey, it actually produces its own poison. It is the first vertebrate discovered that produces its own alkaloids, and similar to other poisonous frogs, it uses it for self-defense. These tiny frogs don't breed until four years of age, and hibernate during winters. Unfortunately, like so many other frog species, it is critically endangered with populations plummeting over the last three decades. The laundry list of causes include, "habitat destruction from recreational 4WD use; development of ski resorts; feral animals; degradation of the frogs' habitat; the extended drought cycle affecting much of southeastern Australia at present; and increased UV radiation flowing from ozone layer depletion." [Videos]
For more on frog conservation around the world, visit:
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