Technicolor Frogs

July 30, 2012

Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

The frogs of Latin America are some of nature’s most colorful creatures. But in the wild, these tiny hoppers don’t beg to be admired…instead, their vibrant skins warn would-be predators to stay away. One touch—or bite—and predators risk suffering from dangerous toxins excreted by these aposematic amphibians. The root of that big word? “Apo” means “away;” “sematic” means “sign.”