Deadly Animals

There are over 175 species of Poison-arrow frogs found in the rainforests of South America (only 3 have poison strong enough to be dangerous to a human). All species are very small, just as big as your thumbnail, and have beautiful bright colors - blue, green, red, pink or gold with darker spots and stripes. Their colors warn potential predators, such as birds, that making a snack out of these frogs would be dangerous! The frogs get their name from an indigenous custom of using the poison from the frog’s skin to make their hunting darts and arrows more deadly - they are also often called "Dart frogs." The unique chemicals on the skin of these frogs are not only useful for hunting – scientists are researching ways to use them in a variety of medicine! Unfortunately, habitat loss has made many of these species endangered!

A Bromeliad is a plant with brightly colored, spiky flowers. They grow across the rainforests of South America. Their stiff waxy petals form bowls where rainwater collects. These tiny pools make unique micro-ecosystems and are the perfect place for tadpoles to grow up safely into frogs! In fact, over 300 species make bromeliad flowers their home. And if you’ve ever eaten a pineapple, you’ve had a bromeliad!