Phantasmal poison frog

Taxobox | name = Phantasmal poison frog
status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Dendrobatidae
genus = "Epipedobates"
species = "E. tricolor"
binomial = "Epipedobates tricolor"

A phantasmal poison frog ("Epipedobates tricolor") is a species of poison dart frog. Their natural habitat are the Andean slopes of the central Ecuadorian Bolívar province. They have radiant color, powerful poison, and yet are some of the smallest frogs around, ranging from convert|1|cm|in to convert|4|cm|in. They can live up to 10 years in captivity.Fact|date=September 2008

Phantasmal poison frogs have one of the strongest toxins of frogs.Fact|date=September 2008 Their toxicity is known to be lethal. One of commonly related organisms, the blue triden frog, is frequently confused up with the Phantasmal poison frog.Fact|date=September 2008

A chemical extracted from the skin of this species has turned out to be of medicinal use. [http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg13418232.900-science-potent-painkiller-from-poisonous-frog-.html] A painkiller 200-times as potent as morphine, called epibatidine, has no negative side effects. [http://www.biophysj.org/cgi/content/full/75/4/1817] Secretions from dendrobatids are also showing promise as muscle relaxants and heart stimulants. [http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-poison_frog.html]

ee also

* Epibatidine

Notes

External links

* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/55239/all Epipedobates tricolor]