An unwary snake or other predator that tries to eat a poison dart frog will become very sick, paralyzed or even die from the ingestion of an alkaloid-based poison secreted through the frog’s skin. This poison is thought to come from its diet. As such, poison dart frogs in zoos lose their toxicity.
Did You Know?
Legend has it that ancient tribes would rub a dyeing dart frog’s skin on a parrot to change the color of its feathers.