At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The golden poison frog is one of the most toxic animals on Earth, a small, brilliantly coloured frog from Colombia. It is assessed as Endangered.
Its bright colour warns predators of the potent toxins in its skin.
Range & habitat
A small area of rainforest on the Pacific coast of Colombia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Deforestation
- Habitat degradation
- A very small range
Why it matters
Both a symbol of rainforest chemistry and a culturally important species, the golden poison frog highlights how a tiny range makes even an abundant-seeming animal vulnerable.
Sources
Sources for Golden Poison Frog
- IUCN Red List — look up Golden Poison Frog (authoritative status)
- AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)
Frequently Asked Questions
How toxic is the golden poison frog?
It is considered one of the most toxic animals known; its skin carries powerful alkaloid toxins. Its bright colour is an aposematic warning to predators.
Why is it Endangered?
Published assessments cite deforestation and habitat degradation within its very small range on Colombia's Pacific coast. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: