Phyllomedusa bicolor
Encyclopedia
The Giant leaf frog is a hylid frog
found throughout the Amazon Rainforest
of northern Bolivia
, western and northern Brazil
, south-eastern Colombia
, eastern Peru
, southern and eastern Venezuela
, and the Guianas. Locally, it also occurs in riverine forest in the Cerrado
. This species is now jeopardized by biopiracy
because it produces a waxy secretion that may have medicinal uses against AIDS
, cancer
and other diseases. The Matses
and Mayoruna people apply the poison of the frog to self-inflicted burns in order to enter an altered state of consciousnesshttp://www.erowid.org/archive/sonoran_desert_toad/bicolor.htm. The poison has been reported to produce a variety of effects ranging from stimulation, to sedation, anorexia, and hallucinations. The poison contains dermorphin and deltorphin which act on opioid receptor
s.
Some of the components isolated from the waxy secretion have been patented in the past, but none of those patents have led to successful products yet.
The Giant Leaf Frog is nocturnal. As in several other species
of frogs, the eggs are laid in a leaf-nest above a forest pool. When they hatch, the tadpoles fall into the water where they continue the development into adult frogs.
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
found throughout the Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
of northern Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, western and northern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, south-eastern Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, eastern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, southern and eastern Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and the Guianas. Locally, it also occurs in riverine forest in the Cerrado
Cerrado
The Cerrado, is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Gioas and Minas Gerais...
. This species is now jeopardized by biopiracy
Biopiracy
- Biopiracy and bioprospecting :Bioprospecting is an umbrella term describing the discovery of new and useful biological samples and mechanisms, typically in less-developed countries, either with or without the help of indigenous knowledge, and with or without compensation...
because it produces a waxy secretion that may have medicinal uses against AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and other diseases. The Matses
Matsés
The Matsés or Mayoruna are an indigenous tribe of the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon. The tribe's ancestral lands are currently threatened by illegal logging practices and poaching. These homelands are located between the Javari and Galvez rivers...
and Mayoruna people apply the poison of the frog to self-inflicted burns in order to enter an altered state of consciousnesshttp://www.erowid.org/archive/sonoran_desert_toad/bicolor.htm. The poison has been reported to produce a variety of effects ranging from stimulation, to sedation, anorexia, and hallucinations. The poison contains dermorphin and deltorphin which act on opioid receptor
Opioid receptor
Opioid receptors are a group of G protein-coupled receptors with opioids as ligands. The endogenous opioids are dynorphins, enkephalins, endorphins, endomorphins and nociceptin. The opioid receptors are ~40% identical to somatostatin receptors...
s.
Some of the components isolated from the waxy secretion have been patented in the past, but none of those patents have led to successful products yet.
The Giant Leaf Frog is nocturnal. As in several other species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of frogs, the eggs are laid in a leaf-nest above a forest pool. When they hatch, the tadpoles fall into the water where they continue the development into adult frogs.