Poison arrow frog

[pussyfoot]

When tribes used the poison arrow frog to kill their prey, why were they not affected by the poison when they eat the animal?

[andy-hughes]

Not sure if they do eat it, but assuming you are correct -

the poison is taken from the skin secretions of the frog, so if they skin it first, no problem.

[pussyfoot]

Thanks Andy,
but I assume they kill the animal to eat, if so then the arrow would pierse the body of the animal and therefore transmit the poison?

[wildwood]

Mmm..... I have no idea pussyfoot, but what a great question. Obviously, the toxin must enter the bloodstream of the prey to be so effective.

I suspect that the poison is one of those that needs to enter the bloodstream and is harmlessly neutralised by the stomach acids if eaten, but this is only guessing.

[andy-hughes]

Sorry, I misread your question!

From research, it appears that after about forty minutes, the poison is neutralised, so consumption can begin without fear of poison.

[janbee]

maybe cooking it will destroy any poison.

[hammerman]

Aren't poison arrow frogs tiny....1-2cm ??? would've thought it was a bit hard to cook and eat them !!!