South American frogs are losing their poisonous skin which keeps them safe from predators: Scientists reveal how they could get it back

Image Credit: By Brian Gratwicke Harlequin frogs(Atelopus) are unique amphibians facing a threat to their survival, with approximately 81% of them in decline and 56% possibly extinct, as per the review published on Science direct. These small, coloured creatures are famous for their toxic skin, which act as a protection from predators. However, recent research by UC Berkeley shows a worrying trend that some harlequin frogs are losing their chemical defence.This loss of poison leaves the frogs vulnerable to predators and indicates a deeper ecological shift. The scientists from the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (PARC) and the University of California (Berkeley) have discovered that the lack of a natural environment directly impacts a frog’s ability to maintain its toxic skin. This phenomenon creates a challenge for reintroduction.Why are these South American frogs losing their defence poisonThe primary problem that scientists are solving right now is the ‘source of the poison.’ According to the comprehensive ‘review of chemical defence in harlequin toads by Kannon Pearson and Rebecca Tarvin,’ these animals possess two distinct toxins named ‘bufadienolides’ and ‘gua...