Dangerous Frogs: The Monkey Frog

Phyllomedusa bicolor

Habitat

The Monkey Frog lives in the forests of the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; the Guianan region of Venezuela; and the Guianas. It is nocturnal and prefers the high tree branches, descending to the lower branches above ponds to mate.

Description

The Monkey Frog has a green head and a gray throat and chest, and its sides are reddish brown with cream-colored spots. The iris of its eye is silvery gray. It is carnivorous; its prey includes insects and any small animals it can catch.

Certain groups of Amazon Indians, such as the Mayoruna, use the dried secretions of the Monkey Frog mixed with human saliva for medicinal purposes, introducing the secretions into the bloodstream through deliberate breaks in the skin. The poison initially causes pain and upset stomach, but the person later feels energized and refreshed.