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Article posted Thursday, April 24, 2014 11:21am

Phyllobates terribilis (“terrible frog”). Photo by Brian Gratwicke.

In fairy tales, a young maiden kissing a frog may result in the frog transforming into a handsome prince. But there are some frogs you wouldn’t dare touch, much less kiss. The colorful “poison frogs” in question reach about two inches in length and live in rain forests of Central and South America. Although most frogs and toads secrete toxins onto their skin, several species secrete a deadly toxic mucus. Choco Indians of South America use leaves to capture one such species (called Phyllobates terribilis or “terrible frog”). They rub the tips of their arrows or darts onto the back of the frog, thus the name “poison dart frogs.” A tiny drop on the tip of a blowgun dart will quickly kill the birds and small mammals hunted by the natives. If a drop of the toxin were to enter an open wound on a human, he would be dead in minutes. On the other hand, the toxin of one poison frog species is being used to produce a painkiller for humans that is 200 times more effective than morphine (with fewer side effects). (sandiegozoo.org; USA Today, May 9, 2012)