Frogs
The Strawberry Poison-Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio) of Costa Rica is a tiny amphibian with a bright red body and blue, black, or purple legs, depending on the morph.
Depending on geographic location, there are over 15 known colour morphs, from bright orange to green to even completely blue.
The frog secretes toxic alkaloid compounds through its skin, making it poisonous to predators and its bright colouration (aposematism) warns predators of its toxicity.
The toxicity is derived from their diet — ants, mites, and other small invertebrates in the wild. Captive frogs lose their toxicity if not fed the right prey.
It prefers leaf litter and mossy environments, often near streams or other moist areas in humid lowland forests along the Caribbean side of Central America, especially in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Females lay eggs on land and after hatching both the males and females transport tadpoles to small pools in bromeliads or tree holes. The mother feeds tadpoles unfertilized eggs—a rare example of matrotrophy in amphibians.
Even though poison dart frogs as a group have been revered or respected by various indigenous cultures, these Strawberry Poison-Dart Frogs are not used for hunting.
Their bright warning colours symbolise danger, strength, and survival. They are often seen as a metaphor for hidden power, small but deadly.
Comments
Sadly witjout any thought of repercussions. Within a few months the mosquitoes and other harmful insects exploded and the locals were up in arms.
The frog population has since recovered - Kieran
Those are frogs of the same family - Kieran
Mongooses are also very quick and agile, often dodging strikes and attacking the snake’s head, reducing the chance of being bitten at all.
Their thick, tough fur can help reduce the impact of a snake’s fangs reaching skin
However, venom from snakes like cobras and kraits typically contains neurotoxins that bind to nAChRs at the neuromuscular junction, causing paralysis and death.
In mongooses, specific mutations in the genes coding for these receptors change their structure just enough to prevent the venom from binding effectively—without impairing normal nerve function. - Kieran