The top 10 poisonous frogs in the world (ranking of the most poisonous frogs)

There are more than 170 species of poison frogs. These amphibians are stunning with their brilliant colors, but the colors are not just for show. Generally speaking, the brighter the poison frog, the more poisonous it is. Have you ever wondered which frogs are the most venomous? Today I will introduce to you the top ten most poisonous frogs in the world, such as golden poison dart frog, blue poison dart frog, ghost poison dart frog, cocoa poison dart frog, Panamanian golden frog, strawberry poison dart frog, dyed poison dart frog wait. Let’s find out together.

1. Golden poison dart frog (poisoned ten adults within three minutes)

The most poisonous frog in the world is the golden poison dart frog, which is mainly found in tropical rainforest areas such as Brazil, Guyana and Chile. The body color is bright, and the whole body is golden yellow, especially the lemon yellow which is the most eye-catching and conspicuous. The LD50 (median lethal dose) of the toxin secreted by the skin of the golden poison dart frog is 0.2 micrograms per kilogram. It is believed that as little as 14 micrograms of the golden poison dart frog's toxin is enough to pose a fatal threat to an adult weighing 70 kilograms. The entire skin is venomous and is considered one of the most venomous vertebrates. The poison in a golden poison dart frog can kill ten adults in three minutes, and its venom causes severe pain, paralysis and heart failure.

2. Blue Poison Dart Frog (Blue Diamond in the Forest/Deadly Poison)

The blue poison dart frog is one of the most venomous frogs in the world and is native to the tropical rainforest areas of South America near the equator. Recognized as the most beautiful species of poison dart frog, it is often described as the sapphire of the forest. Although it is one of the larger poison dart frogs, its body length does not exceed 5.5 centimeters. The whole body shines with fluorescent blue, which is the ultimate beauty in the amphibian family. Their lifespan in the wild can be as long as 10 years, and in captivity, their lifespan can even exceed 20 years. However, the skin of the blue poison dart frog must not come into contact with wounds, because its skin glands can secrete highly toxic substances that are fatal to most people and animals.

3. Ghost poison dart frog (deadly poisonous)

The ghost poison dart frog, also known as the tricolor poison dart frog, must be at the top of the TOP10 list of the most poisonous frogs. They are mainly distributed in southwestern Ecuador and the adjacent areas of Peru. Their appearance is similar to the reticulated poison dart frog, and they are both smaller poison frogs. These frogs are very shy by nature and usually prefer to hide in dense vegetation.

Scientists have found that the venom of the ghost poison dart frog is 200 times more effective at relieving pain than morphine, at least in mice. Although the venom has potent analgesic properties, it is too toxic to be used in pharmaceutical preparations.

4. Cocoa Poison Dart Frog

Although the cocoa poison dart frog is small in size, it is still one of the deadliest poison dart frogs and is mainly found in humid forests in Colombia between 60 meters and 520 meters above sea level. Despite their small size, they are very beautiful to look at and can even emit a call that is similar in size to that of a bird. Cocoa poison dart frogs generally do not secrete venom, but it is not recommended to touch them. The poison dart frog secretes toxins containing steroid alkaloids that can cause irreversible damage to biological tissue. Victims infected with more toxins may die from paralysis if not treated promptly.

5. Panama Golden Frog

Not all of the top ten poisonous frogs in the world are poison dart frogs. For example, the Panamanian golden frog is also highly poisonous. This frog is known as the most beautiful amphibian in Panama, but it is also one of the most venomous species of the genus Toad. Their bodies are yellow-green to golden-yellow, and their backs and legs are covered with irregular black markings. Upon death, their bodies turn pure gold, hence their name. Its skin can secrete highly toxic toadtoxin, which is a neurotoxin that can cause circulatory and respiratory system failure within 20 to 30 minutes, eventually leading to death.

6. Strawberry Poison Dart Frog

Among the world's poison frog rankings, of course the famous strawberry poison dart frog is also indispensable. This frog is native to Costa Rica, South America, and is one of the most colorful creatures in the Panamanian rainforest. In addition to differences in color, individuals also differ in size, vocalizations, and parental care behaviors. They also appear in variations such as streakless, finely streaked, drop-shaped or mapped.

The bright, warning colors of the strawberry poison dart frog indicate that their skin is rich in different kinds of toxins, which give them an unpleasant odor that repels predators. The skin of the strawberry poison dart frog is highly toxic and can be fatal even to adult humans.

7. Dyed Poison Dart Frog

The dyed poison dart frog, also known as the variegated poison dart frog, is a poisonous frog distributed from southern Nicaragua to Colombia. They are between 34-50 mm in length and belong to the genus Acanthus. This frog mainly inhabits forests in savannah areas, and especially likes to live among trees 1-2 meters above the ground. The lifespan of the dyed poison dart frog is about eight years, and it breeds easily in the right environment.

The colorful frog is named after a technique that alters the natural color of the bird's feathers. Amazon natives are said to have applied a substance from the skin of poison dart frogs to the skin of parrots to change the color of their new feathers.

8. Black-legged poison dart frog

The bicolor poison dart frog, commonly known as the black-legged poison dart frog, is one of the rare and deadly poison frogs. This brightly colored frog is one of the few venomous frogs responsible for human deaths. The black-legged poison dart frog is one of the larger poison dart frogs. Its LD50 value is 0.57 mg/kg (±0.04), which is enough to kill an adult within a few minutes. Victims may experience symptoms such as muscle paralysis and breathing disturbances. These toxins are so potent that they can even remain in poison dart frogs caught in the wild for long periods of time.

9. Red-banded poison dart frog

According to the IUCN list, the golden poison dart frog and ghost poison dart frog are classified as endangered, while the red-banded poison dart frog is listed as critically endangered. The red-banded poison dart frog is also one of the most poisonous frogs. Its body length is about 3.5 cm. The patterns and colors on its body are mainly composed of red and black broad bands, while the toes are white. The mixture of these colors creates the unusually striking appearance of the red-banded poison dart frog. Despite their small size, the red-banded poison dart frog's venom is extremely toxic and abundant.

10. Poison dart frog (causing heart failure)

The thrush poison dart frog, one of the ten most poisonous frogs, is native to the low-altitude tropical rainforests from Costa Rica to northwestern Panama in South America. Although it is small in size and does not produce a large amount of toxins, the toxins are extremely lethal and can quickly cause heart failure, enough to kill a predator. Unlike other poison dart frogs, the poison dart frog only releases its venom when attacked. Therefore, as long as you don't mess with it, it generally won't cause danger.

The ranking of the ten most poisonous frogs in the world is mainly recommended based on frog toxicity/popularity and comprehensive reference to relevant Internet rankings/lists. The data is as of November 15, 2023. If you have any questions, please comment/criticize at the end. Correction.

animal tags： Frog