poison arrow frog
Deadly colorful hopper
A poison arrow frog is a small, brightly colored frog native to Central and South American rainforests, whose skin secretes potent toxins.
Indigenous peoples traditionally used these secretions to poison the tips of blowgun darts for hunting.
The vivid colors—often brilliant blues, reds, or yellows—warn predators of their toxicity.
Also called poison dart frog.
Immature aquatic amphibian
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- frogspawnAmphibian egg mass
- croakHarsh guttural sound
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
ectothermic · vertebrate · carnivorous · arboreal · nocturnal · terrarium · vivarium · toe pads
Nitrogenous plant compound
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- sequesteredRemoved from contact
Overhead protective covering
- understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- bromeliadTropical plant, often epiphytic
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
Amazon · biodiversity · humidity · ecosystem · habitat · endemic · cloud forest · Central America
Breath-propelled dart tube
- dartHandheld pointed projectile
- huntingPursuing wild game
- curarePlant-derived paralytic toxin
- shamanicOf spirit-world intermediaries
traditional · Amazon · tribal · subsistence · ethnobotany · ancestral knowledge · hunter-gatherer · prey
tadpole
Immature aquatic amphibian
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- frogspawnAmphibian egg mass
- croakHarsh guttural sound
herpetology · ectothermic · vertebrate · carnivorous · arboreal · nocturnal · terrarium · vivarium · toe pads · clutch
alkaloid
Nitrogenous plant compound
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- lethalCausing or capable of death
sequestered · chemical defense · toxicity · pharmacology · antidote
canopy
Overhead protective covering
- understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- bromeliadTropical plant, often epiphytic
tropical · Amazon · biodiversity · humidity · ecosystem · habitat · endemic · cloud forest · Central America · Colombia
blowgun
Breath-propelled dart tube
shamanic · traditional · Amazon · tribal · subsistence · ethnobotany · ancestral knowledge · hunter-gatherer · prey · bushmaster
brilliant
Intensely bright or gifted
- neonInert illuminating element
- vividIntensely clear and bright
- fluorescentEmitting light when energized
blue · yellow · red · orange · black · spotted · striped · banded · polymorphic · cryptic
- colorful creaturesmacaw, peacock, parrot, toucan, scarlet ibis
- warning colorsmonarch butterfly, coral snake, wasp, yellow jacket, hornet
poison arrow frogstick insect
Branch-mimicking bug
chameleon · flounder · glass frog · walking stick · tree frog
poison arrow frogprey species
feeder fish · cricket · minnow · mouse · bait fish
poison, arrow, frog, poisons, poisoned, poisoning, poisonous, poisoner, arrows