Don't Kiss The Frog!

Sunday – January 6th - was the last day of Frogs! at the Milwaukee Public Museum.  One of the most advanced traveling frog exhibitions in the country Jill and I took the opportunity to take-in and experience the vocal and visual beauty of these frogs from around the world. The exhibition has moved-on and this is the third of several postings I promised to publish over the next couple of weeks.  Be sure to check back and learn more about the herps - my favorite people.  

You do not want to kiss these frogs because the most poisonous animal around is not a snake or a spider.  It might be one of these stunningly beautiful frogs.  While most frogs produce skin toxins - these Central and South America amphibians are the most deadly of all.  The Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) holds enough toxin that an amount of poison equal to 2-3 grains of table salt is enough to cause the death of a human.       

From the exhibition are the Blue Poison Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius "azureus") and Dyeing Poison Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius). 

click on images for a closer look

The Yellow-banded or Bumblebee Poison Frog (Dendrobates leucomelas) and green-and-black poison frog (Dendrobates auratus).     








These poison frogs play an important role in the culture of indigenous South American hunters.  The tips of blow darts are inoculated with poison by rubbing the dart tips over the skin of a frog, stabbing or slowly roasting a frog causing it to excrete a toxic white foam.  The toxin tipped darts are destructive enough to kill bats, birds and monkeys. 

If you are wondering why these frogs can survive in the wild while sporting such brilliant and vivid coloration the answer is simple – they can.