When dealing with these frogs, we now use heavy rubber gloves

August 7, 2015 12:59 PM

Do not touch: This frog has venomous head spikes that could kill you Now scientists have discovered — the hard way — two species of Brazilian frog that are venomous.
posted by Michele in California (19 comments total)

Read TFA, disappointed that the hard way didn't include one less scientist on an expedition. I mean, who really liked Ted anyway?
posted by Kitteh at 1:09 PM on August 7, 2015 [3 favorites]

Devil Kermit!
posted by sexyrobot at 1:15 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

I know nothing about how venom works - if they say a gram is enough to kill six people, but the scientist who was exposed to it only felt some pain, I'd assume it's because he was exposed to a miniscule amount. Are these frogs too small to deliver a fatal dose to humans, or did he just get really lucky?
posted by teponaztli at 1:20 PM on August 7, 2015

okay, let's get the easy jokes out of the way...

Now we know the REAL reason Kermit and Piggy broke up.

Some things DO make it easier being green.

Obligatory Sign

and the 'probably not a Mark Twain quote': “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:22 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

My daughter loves animals and is always picking up random creatures she finds outside. When she was two she picked up a small bee, which immediately stung her. We still had to convince her not to do it again.

What I'm saying is, now I know what kind of phone call to expect in a few decades. "So, dad, I picked up this frog..."
posted by sgranade at 1:27 PM on August 7, 2015 [5 favorites]

I've just had a really great idea for reviving the Whizzo Chocolate Company's sales!
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:29 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

MY BROODKIN AND I WISH TO EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ROBUST CORYTHOMANTIS GREENINGI AND THEIR EXCELLENT EVOLUTIONARY STRATEGY. WHEN THE C. GREENINGI ACHIEVE FULL SENTIENCE AS WE HAVE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING A ROBUST REPTIFORM COALITION WITH THEM. LONG MAY THEIR VENOMOUS FRILLS SICKEN AND ENNVERATE IN PURSUIT OF THEIR GLORIOUS SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVES.
posted by A. Aardvark Andronicus at 1:49 PM on August 7, 2015 [9 favorites]

I know nothing about how venom works - if they say a gram is enough to kill six people, but the scientist who was exposed to it only felt some pain, I'd assume it's because he was exposed to a miniscule amount. Are these frogs too small to deliver a fatal dose to humans, or did he just get really lucky?

The article doesn't say how much total venom the frog had, but only a small portion of that frog's venom was delivered. It may be that if the frog had been squished in his boot or smoothie and more of the venom delivered he (and the frog) would have snuffed it.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:12 PM on August 7, 2015

I'm not NOT licking toads!
posted by hippybear at 3:00 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

I think this is the paper. The LD50 for the venom of C. greeningi (the species which stung the researcher) given via intraperitoneal injection in mice is 49-52 micrograms. The spines of the frog seem very tiny, so I would guess that they don't deliver venom much deeper than the skin, which limits the damage as compared to an IP injection. Unless it hits a blood vessel, the venom can only get as far as the proteolytic enzymes can chew.
posted by dephlogisticated at 3:12 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

This accident might seem lucky in hindsight

Are these frogs too small to deliver a fatal dose to humans, or did he just get really lucky?

I swear, this sense of the word "lucky" needs its own definition in the dictionary. It's a very popular journalistic one.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 3:17 PM on August 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

If one eightieth of a gram is lethal for a human, would forensic scientists even find the residue? Would they just say the individual is deceased, from unknowm causes, or would the corpse wear an atypical grimace?
posted by Oyéah at 3:18 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

There are immunoassay kits that can identify snake venom from a bite swab, but those are used in a clinical setting to confirm a suspected envenomation. I don't know if they have any utility in forensics, especially in a scenario where there is no obvious bite mark. You could probably infer venom in many cases based on pathology and place of death. Potential giveaways might be local swelling or tissue necrosis, hemolysis, or widespread coagulopathy/thrombosis without obvious cause. Some venoms, in absence of a visible bite mark, could potentially mimic a heart attack, venous thromboembolism, anaphylaxis, etc.
posted by dephlogisticated at 5:19 PM on August 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

Between this post and the pepper spray post, my skin is positively crawly-tingly right now.
posted by cynical pinnacle at 7:12 PM on August 7, 2015

If one eightieth of a gram is lethal for a human, would forensic scientists even find the residue? Would they just say the individual is deceased, from unknowm causes, or would the corpse wear an atypical grimace?

I'm asking for a friend.
posted by Literaryhero at 1:49 AM on August 8, 2015 [4 favorites]

Look out Australia; Brazil is trying to steal your thunder!
posted by TedW at 2:28 AM on August 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

So- basically the frog's kitted up with thermonuclear overkill and is willing to use it. Ugly little sucker, in any event. Like snapping turtles. Has that lunatic glint in its eye. Probably saw something nasty in the woodshed in its evolutionary childhood.
posted by BWA at 5:12 AM on August 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

Look out Australia

Meh. I'm fine with meeting the occasional funnelweb or blue ringed octopus if it means I don't have to put up with brown recluse spiders, rabies and the NRA.

And Brazil already has plenty of form with toxic frogs.
posted by flabdablet at 11:01 AM on August 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

“Why’s it goin about killing a thousand people?” — Karl Pilkington
posted by glhaynes at 12:24 PM on August 8, 2015