Hi peeps ole gp here, Raver and anyone that might find this useful. This is from Reptiles magazine may 2005 page 8.
Columbia poison frogs (Phyllobates spp.) and 6 Papua New Guinea bird species seem to have little to do with each other. But, in fact, these animals share a toxicity from batrachotoxin, a rare neurotoxin, which is present in their skin and feathers and provides a natural defense.
Scientisits had long suspected that poison frogs obtain thier poison through their diet, because the frogs cannot manufacture the toxins themselves. In captivity, these frogs lose their chemical defense.
When researchers learned about the birds' toxicity, they began looking for the source of the toxin. They discovered that the birds eat Choresine beetles, which contain the deadly substance. Beetles from the family Melyridae, to which the Choresine beetles belong, live in both Columbia and Papua New Guinea.
Scientists, however, say that there may be another source of the toxin for both the beetles and the birds. Future studies are planned.
(www.nationalgeographic.com (http://www.nationalgeographic.com), November 9, 2004)
GP
very interesting gp. so if we eat the beetles do we become protected by the toxin?
-bp
It took those animals millions of years to be able to tollerate the poison in the beetles. If we ate them we'd just die or get very sick. We don't need toxins since no animal tries to eat us anyway.
Quote from: "Stonehenge"It took those animals millions of years to be able to tollerate the poison in the beetles. If we ate them we'd just die or get very sick. We don't need toxins since no animal tries to eat us anyway.
Perhaps we do need toxins. I can think of a few economic animals trying to eat us. Ha.. :lol:
haha wow
looks like they just about solved this mystery...unless the beetle is eating something
people have been wondering this for years..ever since people realized captive poison arrow frogs aren't toxic..
awesome
good ole science