FOUR EXAMPLES OF POISONOUS FROGS

The higher classification of the four examples given below is the same:

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Amphibia

Order Anura

1. Bombina orientalis: “oriental fire-bellied toad”

Mildly toxic, green and black on top, orange stripes on bottom, not a true toad, up to 2 inches long and 2 ounces weight, semiquatic, lives in/near slow-moving water in temperate forests at elevations up to 3,600 feet. NE ASIA (e.g., Korea, NE China, southern Japan, NE Russia) 

Family Bombinatoridae

Genus Bombina

Type Species B. orientialis

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2. Dendrobates azureus: “blue poison frog”

Family Dendrobatidae

Genus Dendrobates

Type species: azureus

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3. Phyllobates terrebilis: “golden frog”

also known as the golden dart frog and golden poison-arrow frog (i.e., their poison is put on the tips of arrows and spears to kill prey).

Family Dendrobatidae

Genus Phyllobates

Type Species P. terribilis

Lives in rain forests in Columbia.

It is now endangered because of habitat destruction.

This species is the largest in physical size (up to 6 inches length) of the poison-dart family.

There are several color morphs: yellow, yellow-orange, metallic orange, green, and mint.

This frog is one of the “Harlequin toads,” which are all small, diurnal, and poisonous.

Native to South and Central America.

This is the most poisonous animal species on Earth. One tiny drop of toxin is all it takes to paralyze, and some cases, kill a foe (including humans). Columbia natives use the poison for their spear guns, when in search of prey. Even inhaling the fumes from this poison can be unhealthy.

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4. Dyscophus guineti “tomato frog”

Poisonous glands near its eyes. Also, this species can puff up its body.

The females are bright red-orange, whereas the males are yellow orange with black spots. This frog, which has a sticky tongue, eats small insects, larvae, and worms. It is an ambush predator. It lives 6 to 10 years, rarely up to 12 years. This genus is endemic to rain forests in northeast Madagascar. 

Family Microhylidae

Genus Dyscophus

Type species

REFERENCE

Wikipedia, 2026