FaunaHub
ENEndangeredPartial review

Golden Poison Frog

Phyllobates terribilis

Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis), a brilliant yellow frog.

Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis).

Image: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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.

Gallery

A golden poison frog, one of the most toxic animals on Earth.

Golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis).

Image: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Golden Poison Frog

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: