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Golden Poison FrogPhyllobates terribilis

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Golden Poison Frog profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 52 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Citizen Conservation 2024

Basic information and care recommendations for Phyllobates terribilis, Golden Poison Frog. Citizen Conservation, 2024.

The page saysHot, very humid lowland rainforest
The source saysPhyllobates terribilis inhabits hot and very humid, hilly lowland rainforest areas from 30-400 metres above sea level.
The page saysin under five small areas within 1,475 square kilometres
The source saysPhyllobates terribilis only occurs in less than five small areas ... The total extent of the area in which the known sites are located is only 1,475 square kilometres
The page saysthe poison of a single frog could kill up to ten people
The source saysThe venom of a single frog could kill up to ten people.
The page saysLarge females reach 4.7 cm long and males 4.5 cm
The source saysLarge females reach 4.7 cm in length, the males remain somewhat smaller at 4.5 cm.
The page saysTheir life expectancy in a terrarium is 8 to 15 years.
The source saysPhyllobates terribilis has a life expectancy of 8-15 years in the terrarium.
The page saysone of the strongest toxins in the animal kingdom
The source saysThe batrachotoxin of Phyllobates terribilis is one of the strongest toxins in the animal kingdom
The page saysThe poison of a single frog could kill up to ten people
The source saysThe venom of a single frog could kill up to ten people.
The page saysunder five small areas of the Cauca department
The source saysPhyllobates terribilis only occurs in less than five small areas in the catchment area of the Río Saija as well as the Río Naya and in Boca Yurumanguí in the Colombian Departamento de Cauca.
The page saysIt is hot, very humid, hilly lowland forest, 30 to 400 metres above sea level
The source saysPhyllobates terribilis inhabits hot and very humid, hilly lowland rainforest areas from 30-400 metres above sea level.
The page sayswith around 4,000 mm of rain a year
The source saysThe annual precipitation is around 4,000 mm
The page saysthe known sites lie within an area of only 1,475 square kilometres
The source saysThe total extent of the area in which the known sites are located is only 1,475 square kilometres
The page saysthe frogs live in the leaf litter on the forest floor
The source saysThe Golden Poison frog lives in the ground leaf layer of both primary and secondary forests near rivers on hills or on hilltops.
The page saysPoison From Food
The source saysThey ingest the toxin or its precursors with their food, i.e. with the microorganisms that they eat in their native habitat.
The page saysThe frogs cannot make batrachotoxin on their own.
The source saysthe frogs cannot synthesise batrachotoxin on their own.
The page saysThey take in the toxin or its building blocks with the food they eat in the wild, though exactly how is not yet clear.
The source saysThey ingest the toxin or its precursors with their food, i.e. with the microorganisms that they eat in their native habitat. The exact processes have not yet been clarified.Note: "building blocks" defines "precursors"; "in the wild" for "in their native habitat"
The page saysCaptivity fades the poison.
The source saysBecause this food is not available in the terrarium, frogs taken from the wild gradually lose their toxicity over a period of months.
The page saysWithout that food in a terrarium, wild-caught frogs gradually lose their toxicity over months, and captive-bred frogs are generally non-toxic to humans.
The source saysBecause this food is not available in the terrarium, frogs taken from the wild gradually lose their toxicity over a period of months. Captive-bred frogs, such as those distributed by Citizen Conservation, are generally non-toxic to humans.
The page saysa traditional method now rarely practised
The source saysThis traditional hunting method is now rarely practised.
The page saysits populations continue to decline
The source sayswith populations continuing to decline
The page saysThe main threat is the ongoing destruction of its rainforest through deforestation for agriculture, the spread of human settlements and mining.
The source saysThe main threat to the species is the ongoing destruction of the rainforest through deforestation for agriculture, the expansion of human settlements and mining.
The page saysHerbicide pollution from cereal crops grown in its habitat is a threat too.
The source saysEnvironmental pollution from herbicides due to cereals grown in the habitat are also a threat factor.
The page saysThe poison of a single golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) could kill up to ten people.
The source saysThe venom of a single frog could kill up to ten people.
The page saysIts batrachotoxin is one of the strongest toxins in the animal kingdom.
The source saysThe batrachotoxin of Phyllobates terribilis is one of the strongest toxins in the animal kingdom
The page saysGolden poison frogs cannot make batrachotoxin on their own: they take in the toxin or its building blocks with the food they eat in the wild.
The source saysthe frogs cannot synthesise batrachotoxin on their own. They ingest the toxin or its precursors with their food, i.e. with the microorganisms that they eat in their native habitat.
The page saysThat food is not available in a terrarium, where wild-caught frogs gradually lose their toxicity over months and captive-bred frogs are generally non-toxic to humans.
The source saysBecause this food is not available in the terrarium, frogs taken from the wild gradually lose their toxicity over a period of months. Captive-bred frogs, such as those distributed by Citizen Conservation, are generally non-toxic to humans.

Source
02

National Geographic

Golden Poison Frog. National Geographic.

The page sayson Colombia's Pacific coast
The source saysThey live within a tiny plot of rain forest on the Pacific coast of Colombia.
The page saysboth weigh less than an ounce
The source saysWeight : Less than 1 ounce
The page saysA Tiny Corner of Colombia
The source saysThey live within a tiny plot of rain forest on the Pacific coast of Colombia.
The page saysGolden poison frogs live in a tiny plot of rainforest on Colombia's Pacific coast
The source saysThey live within a tiny plot of rain forest on the Pacific coast of Colombia.
The page saysThe indigenous Emberá people of Colombia have used the frog's poison for centuries to tip their blowgun darts when hunting
The source saysThe indigenous Emberá people of Colombia have used its powerful venom for centuries to tip their blowgun darts when hunting

Source
03

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Poison Frog. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysConsidered the most poisonous animal in the world
The source saysThe golden poison frog is considered to be the most poisonous animal in the world, producing enough nerve toxin at once to kill 10 humans.
The page saysa frog no larger than a bottle cap
The source saysA single golden poison frog, which is no larger than a bottle cap, can supply enough poison for 30 to 50 darts
The page saysproduces enough nerve toxin at once to kill 10 people
The source saysThe golden poison frog is considered to be the most poisonous animal in the world, producing enough nerve toxin at once to kill 10 humans.
The page saysSmall Frog, Enormous Poison
The source saysThe golden poison frog is considered to be the most poisonous animal in the world, producing enough nerve toxin at once to kill 10 humans.
The page saysis no larger than a bottle cap
The source saysA single golden poison frog, which is no larger than a bottle cap, can supply enough poison for 30 to 50 darts
The page saysit is considered the most poisonous animal in the world
The source saysThe golden poison frog is considered to be the most poisonous animal in the world, producing enough nerve toxin at once to kill 10 humans.
The page saysThe Choco people of western Colombia used waxy leaves to pick up golden poison frogs and dipped their blow darts in the frogs' skin secretions.
The source saysthe Choco people of western Colombia use the poison of one species, the golden poison frog, to coat the tips of the blow darts they use for hunting. The Choco use waxy leaves to pick up the frogs and dip their blow darts in the frogs' skin secretions.Note: past tense on purpose: Citizen Conservation (2024) says "This traditional hunting method is now rarely practised."
The page saysA single frog can supply enough poison for 30 to 50 darts, and the dart's poison remains active for up to a year.
The source saysA single golden poison frog, which is no larger than a bottle cap, can supply enough poison for 30 to 50 darts, and the dart's poison remains active for up to a year.

Source
04

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Phyllobates terribilis. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysMostly ants, plus termites and small beetles
The source saysGolden poison frogs are insectivores and prey primarily on species of Brachymyrmex and Paratrechina ants. They also consume small invertebrates such as termites and beetles.
The page sayshunted by day on the forest floor
The source saysGolden poison frogs are diurnal and strictly terrestrial.
The page saysBatrachotoxin acts on the sodium channels of nerve and muscle cells: it keeps the channels open and depolarizes the cells irreversibly, which may lead to arrhythmias, fibrillation and eventually cardiac failure.
The source saysThese compounds are extremely potent modulators of voltage-gated sodium channels. They keep the channels open and depolarize nerve and muscle cells irreversibly. This damaging action may lead to arrhythmias, fibrillation, and eventually cardiac failure.
The page saysActive by day
The source saysGolden poison frogs are diurnal and strictly terrestrial.
The page sayshunting mostly ants, along with termites and small beetles
The source saysGolden poison frogs are insectivores and prey primarily on species of Brachymyrmex and Paratrechina ants. They also consume small invertebrates such as termites and beetles.
The page saysa skin poison, batrachotoxin
The source saysTheir skin is saturated in an alkaloid poison that contains batrachotoxins.Note: vibe.reason
The page sayskeeps the sodium channels of nerve and muscle cells open and depolarizes them irreversibly
The source saysThey keep the channels open and depolarize nerve and muscle cells irreversibly.Note: vibe.reason; replaces "intense neurotoxic energy", a mood. A mechanism, not a record, so ADW's date does not bite

Source
05

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Poison frogs. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysSecretes batrachotoxin and is the most toxic of all frog species
The source saysincluding the golden poison frog, the most toxic of all frog species ... The golden frog secretes the alkaloid toxin batrachotoxin
The page saysthe Smithsonian's National Zoo calls it the most toxic of all frog species
The source saysincluding the golden poison frog, the most toxic of all frog species.

Source
06

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017

Phyllobates terribilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T55264A85887889.

The page saysThe IUCN lists the golden poison frog as Endangered
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Endangered (EN).

Source
07

Daly et al. 1980

Daly et al. (1980). Levels of Batrachotoxin and Lack of Sensitivity to Its Action in Poison-Dart Frogs (Phyllobates). Science.

The page saysIts skin holds remarkably high amounts of batrachotoxin
The source saysBatrachotoxin is present in remarkably high amounts in the skin of Phyllobates terribilis.
The page saysfrogs kept in captivity for up to 6 years were still at least five times more toxic than other Phyllobates species used to poison blowgun darts
The source saysLevels of batrachotoxin tend to be reduced when P. terribilis is maintained in captivity, but even after being confined for up to 6 years, these frogs were still at least five times more toxic than other Phyllobates species used by natives for poisoning blowgun darts.
The page saysfrogs bred and raised to adulthood in captivity had no detectable batrachotoxin
The source saysBatrachotoxin was not detectable in F1 progeny reared to maturity in captivity.

Source
08

Dumbacher et al. 2004

Dumbacher et al. (2004). Melyrid beetles (Choresine): A putative source for the batrachotoxin alkaloids found in poison-dart frogs and toxic passerine birds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysOne study has suggested that beetles of the family Melyridae in Colombian rainforests could be the source of the batrachotoxin in the Phyllobates frogs there.
The source saysThe family Melyridae is cosmopolitan, and relatives in Colombian rain forests of South America could be the source of the batrachotoxins found in the highly toxic Phyllobates frogs of that region.Note: genus scope kept (Phyllobates frogs of that region); hedge kept ("could be")

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.