Colorado River toad

Τοξική δύναμη

Δηλητήριο στο δέρμα του

Το δέρμα του είναι δηλητηριώδες. Είναι επικίνδυνο να το αγγίξεις, να το γλείψεις ή να το φας.

Τι κάνει το δηλητήριό του;

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

Πόσο επικίνδυνο είναι για τους ανθρώπους;

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

Τι κάνει όταν φοβάται;

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