Known for their extreme toxicity, these frogs produce toxins twenty times more potent than that of any other poison dart frog. A single golden poison frog contains enough toxins to kill ten grown men: it’s thought to be one of the most toxic animals on Earth. The toxins can cause lasting damage to nerve and muscle cells, and ultimately lead to a heart attack. Once in contact with a person's face, they create a searing sensation over a few hours.

The frogs come in shades of yellow, orange, or pale green, varying with their place of origin. This vibrant colouration is the primary way in which these amphibians warn off their enemies. 

This species has a sole predator – a tiny snake immune to their toxins and that feeds only on young frogs due to its small size.

For centuries, the indigenous people of Colombia have upped their hunting game by tipping their blowgun darts into the frog’s venom. It is thought that plant poisons, carried in the bodies of the frog’s invertebrate prey, are the source of the frog’s toxicity. If raised under human care and fed prey items that don't originate from their natural habitat, the frogs never develop venom.

Medical researchers have developed a painkiller by recreating one of the compounds in the frog’s toxins synthetically.