Poisonous amphibians
Encyclopedia
Poisonous Amphibians are amphibians that produce toxin
s to defend themselves from predators.
Except certain salamandrid salamanders that can extrude sharp venom-tipped ribs, amphibians are not known to actively inject venom
, most toxic amphibians are instead known to be poisonous to touch or eat. Amphibians usually sequester toxins from animals and plants that they feed on, commonly from poisonous insects or poisonous plants. One example of this is the well known poison dart frog. They get a deadly chemical called lipophilic
alkaloid
from consuming a poisonous plant in the rainforest
. And they are immune to the poison so they secrete it through their skin as a defense mechanism against predators, just as other amphibians do. This poison is so efficient that the native people of the south America
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use the frogs toxins on their weapons to kill their prey, giving the frogs their nickname the "poison arrow dart frog". However other people use the Bufotoxins of some species of toxic toads as a drug to get high, but this can become very dangerous. Usually due to the toads size and toxicity the poisons would not be deadly to a fully grown, healthy adult. But if too much of the toxins are absorbed, or if the person is young or ill then the poisons can become a serious threat. It also depends on the species, because some types of amphibians do have toxins strong enough to kill even a healthy and fully matured person with in just a few minutes, while other species may not have toxins potent enough to have any effect on you at all. In addition licking toads is not biologically practical. In order for these tryptamines to be orally activated, the human monoamine oxidase (MAO)
system needs to be inhibited. Therefore licking a poisonous amphibian won't guarantee receiving a high sensation.
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
s to defend themselves from predators.
Except certain salamandrid salamanders that can extrude sharp venom-tipped ribs, amphibians are not known to actively inject venom
Venom
Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...
, most toxic amphibians are instead known to be poisonous to touch or eat. Amphibians usually sequester toxins from animals and plants that they feed on, commonly from poisonous insects or poisonous plants. One example of this is the well known poison dart frog. They get a deadly chemical called lipophilic
Lipophilic
Lipophilicity, , refers to the ability of a chemical compound to dissolve in fats, oils, lipids, and non-polar solvents such as hexane or toluene. These non-polar solvents are themselves lipophilic — the axiom that like dissolves like generally holds true...
alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
from consuming a poisonous plant in the rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
. And they are immune to the poison so they secrete it through their skin as a defense mechanism against predators, just as other amphibians do. This poison is so efficient that the native people of the south America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n amazons
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...
use the frogs toxins on their weapons to kill their prey, giving the frogs their nickname the "poison arrow dart frog". However other people use the Bufotoxins of some species of toxic toads as a drug to get high, but this can become very dangerous. Usually due to the toads size and toxicity the poisons would not be deadly to a fully grown, healthy adult. But if too much of the toxins are absorbed, or if the person is young or ill then the poisons can become a serious threat. It also depends on the species, because some types of amphibians do have toxins strong enough to kill even a healthy and fully matured person with in just a few minutes, while other species may not have toxins potent enough to have any effect on you at all. In addition licking toads is not biologically practical. In order for these tryptamines to be orally activated, the human monoamine oxidase (MAO)
Monoamine oxidase
L-Monoamine oxidases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of monoamines. They are found bound to the outer membrane of mitochondria in most cell types in the body. The enzyme was originally discovered by Mary Bernheim in the liver and was named tyramine oxidase...
system needs to be inhibited. Therefore licking a poisonous amphibian won't guarantee receiving a high sensation.
Toxic amphibians
- Frogs and toads
- American toadAmerican toadThe American Toad is a common species of toad found throughout the eastern United States and Canada. It is divided into three subspecies—the Eastern American Toad , the Dwarf American Toad , and the rare Hudson Bay Toad...
- Asiatic toadAsiatic toadThe Asiatic toad, or Bufo gargarizans, is a species of toad endemic to East Asia. It is common in China and portions of the Russian Far East The Asiatic toad, or Bufo gargarizans, is a species of toad endemic to East Asia. It is common in China (specifically Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei,...
- Cane toadCane ToadThe Cane Toad , also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad which is native to Central and South America, but has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean...
- Colorado River toadColorado River ToadThe Colorado River toad, Bufo alvarius, also known as the Sonoran Desert toad, is a psychoactive toad found in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States...
- Common toadCommon ToadThe common toad or European toad is an amphibian widespread throughout Europe, with the exception of Iceland, Ireland and some Mediterranean islands...
- Corroboree frogCorroboree frogThe Corroboree frogs are two species of small, ground dwelling frogs, native to Southern Tablelands of Australia. The two species are the Southern Corroboree Frog and the Northern Corroboree Frog .-Taxonomy:'Corroboree' is an Indigenous Australian word for a gathering or meeting where...
- European Green ToadEuropean Green ToadThe species group of the green toads is an anuran group toad found in mainland Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. They live in many areas, including steppes, mountainous areas, semi-deserts, and urban areas...
- Fowler's Toad
- MantellaMantellaMantella is a genus of frogs in the family Mantellidae, endemic to Madagascar. These are small frogs typically reaching , with iridescent colors with combinations of black, blue, orange, yellow, and green which reflect the toxic nature of their skins...
- Panamanian golden frogPanamanian golden frogThe Panamanian golden frog is a critically endangered toad which is endemic to Panama. It has been considered a subspecies of A. varius, but is now generally regarded as a separate species. While the IUCN still lists it as critically endangered, it may have been extinct in the wild since 2007...
- Poison dart frogPoison dart frogPoison dart frog is the common name of a group of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae which are native to Central and South America. These species are diurnal and often have brightly-colored bodies...
- American toad
- Salamanders
- Pacific NewtsTarichaThe genus Taricha consists of three species and four subspecies of Western Newts . All newts are part of the family Salamandridae...
- Pacific Newts
See also
- Psychoactive toadPsychoactive toadPsychoactive toad is a name used for toads from which psychoactive substances from the family of bufotoxins can be derived. The skin and poison of Bufo alvarius contain 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenin. Other species contain only bufotenin. 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenin both belong to the family of...
- List of poisonous animals
- Toxic birdsToxic birdsToxic birds are birds that produce toxins to defend themselves from predators. No species of bird is known to actively inject venom, but some birds are known to be poisonous to touch or eat...
- List of venomous animals
- Venomous snakes
- Venomous fishVenomous fishVenomous fish are fish that produce venom. There are at least 1200 species of venomous fish, and they include the Stonefish, Lionfish, Scorpion Fish, Stargazer, and Toadfish .-See also:* Hallucinogenic fish...
- Venomous mammalsVenomous mammalsVenomous mammals are animals of the class Mammalia that produce venom, which they use to kill or disable prey, or to defend themselves from predators. In modern nature, venomous mammals are quite rare. Venom is much more common among other vertebrates; there are many more species of venomous...