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Research Deadly Frogs - Gift Gnomes Help the Heart?
The most poisonous frog in the world
The most poisonous frog in the world belongs to these tree and leaf climbers and is called "terrible poison dart frog" (Phyllobates terribilis). The frogs are yellow, yellow-green or orange-colored, rarely gray. The skin of one of these frogs contains enough venom to kill 20,000 mice or 100 people.
The poison of the Goldbaumsteiger, Dendrobates Auratus, may help against heart disease. (Uwe Bergwitz / fotolia). Where lives the Dread Frog?
The world's most poisonous frog lives only in a tiny area near the Rio Saija on the Colombian Pacific coast. The animals live at the bottom of the tropical rainforest near the river. He is in great danger today. The other poison dart frogs all live in forest regions of Central and South America.
Touch kills
A tiny amount of his poison Batratoxin is enough to kill a human when touched. It paralyzes muscles and breathing.
Arrow poison for hunting
The indigenous people pick up the phyllobars with leaves and strip off the secretions. Traditionally, they used it for hunting. Even the medicine of the Maya knows the colorful poison gnomes.
A giant among dwarfs
The bright yellow "dreadful poison dart frog" is a giant among the tiny dendrobatids and phyllobatids. With at least 5 centimeters he towers over other species up to twice.
Fever and convulsions
The less dangerous species of tree and leaf climbers still trigger stomach cramps and fever when touched.
Protection against predators
The science believed that the strong poison is used to protect the small frogs from predators. These are teeming with tropical rainforest: snakes, lizards, monkeys, coatis, martens, various birds and even larger frogs like toads love such chunks of protein.
Poison or hide
Living with poison allows the animals to survive. The otherwise defenseless frogs can only protect themselves with poison or hide.
Warning or camouflage colors?
The bodies of the tree and leaf climber shine in red, blue, green or lemon yellow in irrisierenden patterns and signal danger for attackers. But many species are less conspicuous and the bright colors are barely visible between bromeliads and tree bark.
Against fungal attack?
Many predators are not deterred by the warning colors, and today many biologists assume that the poison is primarily intended to kill bacteria and fungi that infect the sensitive frog skin.
How does the poison form??
Researchers used to assume that bacteria on the frog skin produce the poison. Today we know that the frogs synthesize the venom from the materials of their prey, which also includes poisonous animals: ants, termites, centipedes.
Terrarientiere
This also suggests that animals born in the terrarium are non-toxic. Here they eat vinegar flies or little crickets.
Medical benefit?
Animal poisons are extremely interesting for pharmacology: the deadly poison of a cone snail is the basis for painkillers; ACE inhibitors were derived from the venom of lance vipers.
Painkiller
Epibatidin, extracted from the poison of the species Epipedobates Tricolor, is 200 times more potent against pain than morphine. Unfortunately, it probably attacks the human body. The frog venom docks like nicotine at the binding sites of the messenger acetylcholine, but 120 times stronger.
Remedy for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's?
Epibatidin may indicate pathologically altered areas of the brain and may be of great help in the treatment of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
Remedies for heart disease?
The two species Dendrobatus auratus and Dendrobates Pumillo have a poison that affects the heart rhythm. It may be useful to develop remedies for heart disease. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)