Why These Frogs Are Toxic

Would you touch a poison dart frog? 

In the wild, these brilliantly colored frogs absorb powerful toxins from the insects they eat, making their skin dangerous to the touch. Their bright patterns are a survival strategy called aposematic coloration, a visual warning to predators: “Back off, I’m toxic.” Symptoms from exposure can range from tingling skin to full-body paralysis. However, here at the Museum of Science, our dart frogs are raised on a safe diet of crickets and fruit flies, so they’re completely non-toxic.