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Poison Dart Frog


Poison Dart Frog
Photo Information
Copyright: Philip Erche (netfalls) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1752 W: 153 N: 2457] (9276)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-11-04
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon 50mm f1.8, Digital RAW 800, Kenko extention tube 20mm
Exposure: f/4, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Frogs and Toads [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-11-05 10:51
Viewed: 3727
Points: 39
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Poison Dart Frog is the common name given to the group of Dendrobatid frogs belonging to the family of Dendrobatidae. This group of frogs has many common names including "poison arrow" frogs, "poison dart" frogs, or simply dart frogs.

Background

These frogs received their common name from the toxic (called pumiliotoxin) skin a few species possess, such as the most poisonous dart frog, Phyllobates terribilis, also known as the golden poison dart frog.

More than 100 toxins have been identified in the skin secretions of members of the Dendrobatidae family of frogs, especially Dendrobates and Phyllobates. Members of the genus Dendrobates (of which there are ten known species) are also known as "poison dart" or "poison arrow" frogs. However, only frogs of the genus Phyllobates produce the extremely potent neurotoxin, batrachotoxin. Even a very tiny amount of the batrachotoxin found in the skins of Phyllobates terribilis and at least two other species of Phyllobates frogs - on the order of just 40 micrograms - can be fatal.

Certain tribes in South America, such as the Noanamá Chocó and Emberá Chocó indians of western Colombia, dip the tips of their hunting arrows or blowgun darts in the poison found on the skin of these frogs. The poison is generally collected by roasting the frogs over a fire.

When a wild animal is shot with a poison-tipped arrow, it will die within minutes from the neurotoxin, making additional shots unnecessary to kill it. Poison darts made from either fresh or fermented batrachotoxin are enough to drop monkeys and birds in their tracks. Nerve paralysis is almost instantaneous.

Poison dart frogs are traditionally characterized by their brightly colored skin and small size. The skin color can range from bright orange and black to true blue, to yellow, blue, and black spots.

Poison dart frogs are only found in three geographical regions: Central America, South America, and on a few of the Hawaiian islands. In Hawaii, the only species found in the wild is the green and black poison dart frog, also known by its genus species, Dendrobates auratus. It is believed that the species was actually introduced to the islands during the 19th or 20th centuries by man.

There are well over 100 different species of poison dart frog found in the wild, only a handful of which are actually toxic to animals and humans. It is believed the few species that are toxic become so through their diet, which consists in part of carpenter ants. These ants are believed to eat an unknown wild plant which has toxic properties, which are passed from the plant to the ant to the poison dart frog, then digested and secreted on the outside of the amphibian's skin.

www.wikipedia.org
marhowie, extramundi, isa, Dave, keanhoon, Janice, cedryk, deud, alejandroguzman, Active, Luc, thistle, angybone, claudine has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To claudine: member since July 2006netfalls 2 01-10 07:50
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice frame filling close up, nice color contrast between the blue frog and the green background.

I would like to see a little more depth of field and possibly a little less dead space on the top of the photo.

The frog is not Phyllobates terribilis (which is yellowish green). This frog is Dendrobates azureus.

An excellent POV Philip. Great impact with these wild colors..The all important head is clear & sharp with great details. It's well composed & I like the BG effect also. Well done. Thank You my friend.

  • Great 
  • Kris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 0 N: 129] (1808)
  • [2005-11-05 14:36]

What a fantastic celebration of colour in nature - absolutely perfect.
Regards, Krzysztof.

Hi Philip, how are you?
What a nice and interesting subject you show here, colours and POV is truly amazing. I find colours a bit too saturated, but it might be like this :D
As always a quality post. Thanks for the note.
Regards, Felipe.

i like the color of the frog. It will be great if DOF could include more of the body.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3450 W: 144 N: 5884] (17440)
  • [2005-11-06 3:17]

I love its colourings Philip, and so good to be able to see, considering it's poisonous. Where did you find it? Surely it wasn't hopping aroound in Germany! Cute pose too. TFS.

  • Good 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2005-11-06 5:31]

Beautiful and interesting shot but the DOF is shallow ! Thanks for sharing Philip.

" the Life is so rare in the universe and the Nature so precious, take care of them! " Christian...

Nice picture with great note along. The colours of the frog are stunning! It would be nice to have it all in focus but then the background would be more disturbing. Greetings from Poland! Michal

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3070 W: 231 N: 5860] (19704)
  • [2005-11-06 13:49]

What a fantastic POV on this beautiful poison dart frog. The colors are stunning and shocking. That electric blue is so vivid, almost unnatural. I guess that is what makes these poison dart frogs so interesting. Congratulations, Philip, and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2828 W: 75 N: 8019] (26837)
  • [2005-11-06 15:51]

Hi Philip, long time...
Very colorfull and poisonous frog, I saw one of these in our zoo. Good pose and composition, lovely colours.

Good POv and pose. Good contrast with background.

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 500 W: 2 N: 466] (2123)
  • [2005-11-07 8:48]

incredible brilliant colors on subject! very nice vertical composition. excellent work.

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7745)
  • [2005-11-15 18:34]

Hi Philip,
What a fantastic celebration of colour.Very nice vertical composition.My favorite blue color.
TFS
osse

what a STUNNING PICTURE

Great composition, perfect DOF and POV.
CONGRATULATIONS !!!


hugs
Alejandro

  • Great 
  • Active Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 113 W: 6 N: 19] (1231)
  • [2005-12-06 16:44]

She is so cute, she cant` be a poison frog ;)
Great photo !! as all your photos :)))
TFS :-)
Barbara

quelles magnifiques couleurs !
Marie

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2005-12-23 11:05]

Merry Christmas to you and to those whom you cherish, Philip, and thanks for sharing your beautifull pictures. I really believe that it is worth to make it to be in contact with our increasingly small world.
I am at Granby with my father. We have a great time together preparing the banquet to come for Christmas.
Take care my young friend.
Luc

hi Philip!

Beautiful portrait from a interesting subject with a beautiful blue, and curious face. I like it!

tfs,

ferran

I missed that somehow.
It's a great shot with wonderful colours. Framing and POV are perfect. I would maybe remove some noise from BG.
Anyway, it's super picture and I like it a lot.
VERY WELL DONE & TFS!

The color is definitely eyecatching.
And the little frog's pose is very elegant.

Hello Philip,
This is strange; I am a member since July 2006 and I don't remember seeing any of your pictures and you have a beautiful gallery... This is a very interesting one as I didn't know this specie. I like its blue color and the way you captured it with its head in focus and the rest of its body which is blurred. I also like its pose and this nice BG even if it is a little grainy (ISO 800). Those notes are very interesting and I learned new things today. Thanks,
Claudine

Wow! Excelent colours and pov.

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