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  • Golden poison frog

Golden poison frog

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Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan

5-10 years

Diet

Diet

Ants, termites, beetles

Habitat

Habitat

Lowland rainforests

In the Amazon

range

Range

Endemic to Colombia

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The golden poison frog

Potent poison

Potent poison

Known for their extreme toxicity, these frogs produce toxins twenty times more potent than that of any other poison dart frog. A single golden poison frog contains enough toxins to kill ten grown men: it’s thought to be one of the most toxic animals on Earth. The toxins can cause lasting damage to nerve and muscle cells, and ultimately lead to a heart attack. Once in contact with a person's face, they create a searing sensation over a few hours.

The frogs come in shades of yellow, orange, or pale green, varying with their place of origin. This vibrant colouration is the primary way in which these amphibians warn off their enemies.
To kill and to heal

To kill and to heal

This species has a sole predator – a tiny snake immune to their toxins and that feeds only on young frogs due to its small size.

For centuries, the indigenous people of Colombia have upped their hunting game by tipping their blowgun darts into the frog’s venom. It is thought that plant poisons, carried in the bodies of the frog’s invertebrate prey, are the source of the frog’s toxicity. If raised under human care and fed prey items that don't originate from their natural habitat, the frogs never develop venom.

Medical researchers have developed a painkiller by recreating one of the compounds in the frog’s toxins synthetically.

Together, we protect wildlife

Keeping a species away from harm

Keeping a species away from harm

Found only in a small plot of rainforest on the Pacific coast of Colombia, this species is facing habitat loss due to the use of land for illegal crop planting, logging, and mining activities.

Though the population in its tiny range remains relatively abundant, it is at risk due to the widespread destruction of the forest. Pollution resulting from pesticide spraying of illegal crops renders them particularly vulnerable.

We have successfully bred the golden poison frog at the Singapore Zoo, a first-time feat for us. We maintain a pool of genetically-diverse animals in our collection, that may become part of future conservation efforts.

The IUCN Status

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

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