batrachotoxin
Biochemistry
noun
A highly poisonous alkaloid neurotoxin, which occurs in skin secretions of frogs of the South and Central American genus Phyllobates (family Dendrobatidae).
- Batrachotoxin has also been found in New Guinea in several species of songbird and in certain beetles of the family Melyridae. It has been suggested that consumption of these beetles is responsible for the presence of batrachotoxin in the birds (and perhaps the frogs)..
Origin
1960s.