''Phyllobates samperi'', formerly known as sp. aff. ''aurotaenia'' is a new species of hypertoxic poison dart frog, once cited as the "red" form of '' Phyllobates aurotaenia''. It resembles in size and to some extent in colouration to ''P. aurotaenia'', but genetically it is the sister species of the "terrible" frog '' P. terribilis''. It can be distinguished from ''P. aurotaenia'' by the absence of abundant blue or silver specks or marbling in the venter and limbs, its uniform black or bluish-black body, and its orange or red, rather than green or yellow, stripes. The species was named to honour Colombian biologist Cristian Samper, for his lasting impact on the world of conservation, overseeing initiatives that span across 65 countries. He is considered a respected figure in the intersection of science, governance, and activism.

Distribution

The species is known to occur in the wet forests along the lower San Juan and Dagua river basins in the vicinities of Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, extending eastwards to the foothills of the Cordillera Occiental, but not surpassing elevations above above sea level. The northern limit of its distribution range remains unclear, since the medium and lower San Juan basin remain are poorly explored regarding dendrobatid frogs. The known distribution range of this species includes seven localities enclosed within a ~ polygon, where deforestation due to agriculture, the expansion of urban Buenaventura, and gold mining operations will certainly reduce the amount and quality of habitat. The species has been thus considered to be Vulnerable but a formal assessment is still missing.

Toxicity

All ''

Phyllobates ''Phyllobates'' is a genus of poison dart frogs native to Central and South America, from Nicaragua to Colombia. There are 3 different Colombian species of ''Phyllobates'', considered highly toxic species due to the poison they contain in the wil ...

'' species are considered highly toxic, or hypertoxic, and this species is no exception. Its skin contains

batrachotoxin Batrachotoxin (BTX) is an extremely potent cardiotoxic and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloid found in certain species of beetles, birds, and frogs. The name is from the Greek word . Structurally-related chemical compounds are often referred to collec ...

s, extremely potent

neurotoxic Neurotoxicity is a form of toxicity in which a biological, chemical, or physical agent produces an adverse effect on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. It occurs when exposure to a substance – specifical ...

alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...

s. Indeed, some species of ''

'' remain the only known to be formerly used by Chocó indigenous people in western Colombia to poison blowgun darts. When in contact with the skin, batrachotoxins seep through open wounds and, in some cases, skin pores, and prevent nerves from transmitting impulses, leaving the

muscle Muscle is a soft tissue, one of the four basic types of animal tissue. There are three types of muscle tissue in vertebrates: skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. Muscle tissue gives skeletal muscles the ability to muscle contra ...

s in an inactive state of contraction. This can lead to

heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome caused by an impairment in the heart's ability to Cardiac cycle, fill with and pump blood. Although symptoms vary based on which side of the heart is affected, HF ...

fibrillation Fibrillation is the rapid, irregular, and unsynchronized contraction of muscle fibers. An important occurrence is with regard to the heart. Cardiology There are two major classes of cardiac fibrillation: atrial fibrillation and ventricular fib ...

. Some native people use this poison to hunt by coating darts with the frogs' poison. Alkaloid batrachotoxins can be stored by frogs for years after the frog is deprived of the food-based source, and such toxins do not readily deteriorate, even when transferred to another surface.

Chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl (''Gallus gallus''), originally native to Southeast Asia. It was first domesticated around 8,000 years ago and is now one of the most common and w ...

s and

dog The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the gray wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it was selectively bred from a population of wolves during the Late Pleistocene by hunter-gatherers. ...

s have died from contact with a

paper towel A paper towel is an absorbent, disposable towel made from paper. In Commonwealth English, paper towels for kitchen use are also known as kitchen rolls, kitchen paper, or kitchen towels. For home use, paper towels are usually sold in a roll of p ...

on which the more toxic '' P. terribilis'' had walked.WonderQuest: Most poisonous animal, Contentious ethanol debate, Do fish sleep?
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References

A Endemic fauna of Colombia Amphibians described in 2024 {{Dendrobatidae-stub