the
poison arrow frog Dendrobates
auratus, a colorful killer. This frog lives within the rainforests of south America.
Within its skin lie glands actively producing a cocktail of deadly chemicals,
mainly alkaloids, which are lethal to many organisms. This affords protection
from predators.
Although these may look pretty lying upon the skin of these frogs is a potent poison. The active ingredient of this poison is a complex alkaloid known as Batrachotoxin. This substance acts at sodium ion channels and induces nervous disorder. This toxin was used by south Americans in the past. Hunters would wipe arrow tips upon the skin of the frog, making each arrow that little bit more lethal, hence poison arrow frogs.