Colorado River toad

Poder tòxic

Toxines a la pell

La seva pell és tòxica. És perillós tocar-lo, llepar-lo o menjar-se'l.

Què fan les seves toxines?

The toad releases poison from glands in its skin, including the large parotoid glands behind the eyes. The poison contains psychoactive compounds, including 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenin, which affect the brain. It also contains digoxin-like cardiac glycosides, which act on the heart, and ingesting the poison can be fatal. In one reported case, a young woman who drank a tea made from toad preparation began vomiting and had difficulty breathing soon after, and died about two and a half hours later.1

Com de perillós és per a les persones?

The poison is potent enough to kill a grown dog, and dogs that attack toads have been paralysed or killed. Several cases of human poisoning from swallowing toad secretions or eggs have been reported, and at least one death from the ch'an su preparation has been recorded. The toad has also been linked to poisoning and at least one death from the use of related toad preparations as street drugs.1

Què fa quan té por?

When threatened, it releases toxins from glands in its skin.1