Golden Poison Frog

Fascinating facts about the Golden Poison Frog

• 1,777 species of frogs are found worldwide, but none are as toxic as the Golden Poison Frog, with a single frog containing enough poison to kill 10 humans
• Golden Poison Frogs have 2 milligrams of batrachotoxin in their skin, a toxin that can be fatal if it enters the bloodstream, and native Indians have used this for centuries to poison their darts
• In the humid lowland forests of the Pacific coast of Colombia, Golden Poison Frogs can be found hopping around at speeds of up to 3 miles per hour, slower than a human walk, but precise enough to catch 3,000 ants in one meal
• The Golden Poison Frog's bright orange color is a warning signal to predators, and it works – in the wild, these frogs have no natural predators, but habitat loss and pollution have reduced their population to just 2,500 individuals in the last 10 years
• Scientists have been studying the Golden Poison Frog since 1978, and their research has led to the development of new painkillers, like epibatidine, which is 200 times more potent than morphine, giving hope that these frogs can help humans, even as we work to save them from extinction

At a glance

About the Golden Poison Frog

In the misty, emerald depths of the Colombian rainforest, the Golden Poison Frog embarks on its daily foray, its tiny, jewel-toned form weaving through the underbrush with an air of quiet purpose. As it moves, its vibrant orange skin seems to glow with an inner light, a beacon of warning to potential predators that this diminutive creature is, in fact, one of the most toxic animals on the planet. With each deliberate, almost languid step, the Golden Poison Frog navigates its endangered world, a fleeting glimpse of brilliance in a fragile, fading landscape.

Discover more wildlife