poison dart frogs
Colorful jungle toxins
Poison dart frogs are small, brightly colored frogs native to Central and South American rainforests.
Their vivid colors—electric blues, oranges, yellows—warn predators of toxins secreted through their skin.
Indigenous hunters traditionally used these secretions to poison blowgun darts, hence the name.
Despite their toxicity, they're popular in the exotic pet trade.
Emitting or reflecting light
- vibrantFull of life, intensity
- iridescentShowing shifting spectral colors
- bluePrimary color; also sad
- yellowHue between green and orange
red · orange · spotted · striped · patterned · contrasting · fluorescent · cobalt
Overhead protective covering
- understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- AmazonGreek warrior women
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
tropical · biodiversity · ecosystem · Central America · Colombia · Costa Rica · epiphytes · bromeliads
Nitrogen-based organic compounds
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- toxinBiological-origin harm agent
- sequesteredRemoved from contact
- lipophilicAttracted to fatty substances
Immature aquatic amphibian
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- ectothermicTemperature set by surroundings
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
- tetrapodFour-limbed vertebrate animal
herpetology · froglet · clutch · parental care · phytotelmata
At risk of extinction
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- captive breedingReproducing animals under human care
wildlife trade · smuggling · protected · threatened · declining · extinction risk · reintroduction
bright
Emitting or reflecting light
- vibrantFull of life, intensity
- iridescentShowing shifting spectral colors
- bluePrimary color; also sad
yellow · red · orange · spotted · striped · patterned · contrasting · fluorescent · cobalt · golden
canopy
Overhead protective covering
- understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- AmazonGreek warrior women
humidity · tropical · biodiversity · ecosystem · Central America · Colombia · Costa Rica · epiphytes · bromeliads · cloud forest
alkaloids
Nitrogen-based organic compounds
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- toxinBiological-origin harm agent
- sequesteredRemoved from contact
tadpole
Immature aquatic amphibian
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- ectothermicTemperature set by surroundings
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
tetrapod · herpetology · froglet · clutch · parental care · phytotelmata
endangered
At risk of extinction
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
captive breeding · wildlife trade · smuggling · protected · threatened · declining · extinction risk · reintroduction
- Amazon RainforestAmazon, tropical rainforest, Amazon rainforest, Amazon basin, jungle
- amphibiansfrogs, newt, toad, toads, tadpole
- Dangerous Creaturessharks, lions, tigers, crocodiles, bears
- fish and amphibiansfish, shark, sharks, salmon, cod
- rainforest lifetoucans, orangutans, macaws, sloths, parrots
- tropical rainforestAmazon rainforest, rainforest canopy, tropical forests, sloths, howler monkeys
poison dart frogschameleons
Color-adapting lizards
stick insects · glass frogs · katydids · flounder · nightjars
poison, dart, frog, poisonous, poisoned, poisoning, poisoner, poisoners, unpoisoned