Calling all wildlife experts
 

Hi, guys - I was showing a friend of mine a picture of the little red blue jean frog that I took in CR. Tortuga Lodge trail was swarming with them. She asked me if they were poisonous, but I don't really know. Does anyone know? Do you get sick if you touch it, or do you have to lick it?!

Also, does anybody know the name of those freaky giant frogs they have in Tortuguero? One night the bushes were shaking, and we thought some big mammal was coming to come running out, and it was one of those frogs! They seem like they were out hunting at night. I know you guys will know!

Make that going to come running out...

Hey there...yes the blue jean frogs are poisonous - all the colorful dart frogs are I believe. Not sure how poisonous they are to people, but to their predators they are. Actually, here's a link to a little bit about them:

http://www.anywherecostarica.com/flo...lue-jeans-frog

I absolutely love all the frogs!

Not sure what those big frogs are though!

The little frogs are poisonous but not too dangerous (not for eating). The big ones may be cane/marine toads or smoky jungle frogs.

VG
Put this link in your URL and ask them about the big frogs. It's the Organization for Tropical Studies.
Don't forget to share with us.

http://www.ots.ac.cr/index.php?optio...d=12&Itemid=92

Good luck.
Roger.

Thanks for the awesome article, Shell - I love all those little frogs too! The big frogs, not so much...

Thanks RAC; I'll look those up.

From looking at the pics, I think they were cane toads. They can apparently eject their poison, and they eat kittens. :(

http://www.anywherecostarica.com/flo...bian/cane-toad

rog, thanks for that link.

Yeah, the dart frogs are poisonous but not very. Our guide in Tortuguero told us if you put one in your mouth your mouth would go numb (I hope he didn't know from experience) but to touch them nothing much happens except of course it's not good for the frog because their skin is so delicate.

Thanks, Monica - I was surprised by how tiny they were, and so fast. They were really hard to get a photo of.

We got to hold some dart frogs at the Peace Lodge, and the guide told us that their toxicity is based upon what they eat. In the wild, they eat ants and things that they use to produce their toxin. At PL, they feed them crickets, so the frogs don't manufacture the toxin. I was so glad we got to see them because we've never seen that kind before.

Just a side note (for those who may not be aware). The oils from our hands can clog the frog's pores and is especially dangerous for the babies. They haven't developed their gills yet and this is how they breathe.

Good to note, hip; I remember their making us wash our hands so we didn't have any lotion or anything that could hurt them.